[ubuntu-uk] Re-installs - How do exp users do it?

[Eddie Armstrong]

I often read users saying when a new or new stable version is released 
they do a fresh install and then re-install all their configs and 
programs and other goodies.
So...
If I want to do a fresh install as above to end up with almost a clone 
of my present system running on a new version of Ubuntu (or just a clean 
one ) how can I get all my settings and all my programs etc without 
doing it all manually - one program at a time  ?? How do the exp people 
do it?
Eddie