Is there an easy way to build a new computer, copy all the files and user settings from a previous computer and test all the programs?  It has occurred to me that this is something that seems to be fairly time consuming.  Setting up a Windows XP machine is fairly straight forward, put in the disc, boot and follow the bouncing ball.  Yet when it comes to copying across user data and install specific programs it seems to be a messy process.  There are programs that use SQL Databases, but the databases don’t move cleanly.  Other programs that have “hidden settings”.  I would love for every program created to come with a function that packs up all of the databases, settings files and any other specific “hidden” files ready to move from one computer to the next.  Really how often do people change computer and would love for the next one to be set up exactly the same?

If anyone has any suggestions, I would love to hear them.