How do I make a copy of my hard drive that I can transfer over to any model PC?

I need a program or method to be able to put all of my standard apps on any computer and save this as a backup. I have run ISO's in the past, but they take too long. I just tried a Laplink "PC Mover" app to mover over from an HP machine to a Dell, and I've been cleaning it up for over a week. What a pain...I'm still running XP. Please furnish a free app if possible or a site that has straight forward instructions. If Apples were cheaper , I'd buy one and get out of a lot of this mess.