Windows 7 Preserving config across installations

[auricgoldfinger]

If I were to wipe and reinstall Windows 7 on a partition, is there a way to preserve configuration, particularly for installed applications? For example, I don't want to have to re-download and re-install all of my games on Steam. I figure exporting and importing the registry would be a bad idea since it would inappropriately rewrite EVERY registry key, screwing everything up.

EDIT:
I meant to say that I want to install Windows 7's "memory" of installed applications, as well as the individual app configuration where that is stored in the registry.

 

[reghakr]

No there isn't, you will have to re-install all your 3rd party applications.

A small price to pay than going the upgrade route.

Just write down the list of programs that you want to re-install.

The registry idea would not work at all.