Most new computers come with a 'restore' disk or you build one on first boot,
they also usually keep most of the data needed for restore on a hidden
partition. If you make the 'restore' disk (cd), just leave the hidden
partition on the drive and install what you want, kinda simple, then you
could restore the original if needed. Make sure you check this all out before
you do it, and / or Ghost the whole drive first and add the 'boot' part of
Ghost to the first backup disk (cd/dvd).