moving programs, settings, registry entries, to a new Win7 install

After being unable to fix a black logon screen problem (see: Black logon screen w/movable mouse pointer after failed system restore - Windows 7 ), I'm going to do a clean install.

I'd like to save time and copy as much of my programs and settings as possible. Before I start re-installing, I want to back up things like program folders, registry entries, etc. and then copy them back into Windows 7 once it's newly installed.

Could anyone point me in the right direction? I did a search, but I'm not sure where the best place to start is. Thanks in advance.

I assumed I won't be able to copy EVERYTHING, but the hardware is exactly the same, so surely some stuff can be copied over, can't it? I found this page, is there something incorrect about it?
How to Copy the Registry From One Computer to Another | eHow

Backup the installers, then just reinstalling the software afterwards becomes trivial, and you don't simply care about copying program files and those rare cases where programs need something in the registry.
While the vast majority of software will simply work right away if you copy its files over, some cases will pose problems. Reinstall is therefore the general advice.

Thanks for the response. If the vast majority of software will work by copying, then that is what I would want to try first.

If only a few programs won't work, I can re-install those. But re-installing EVERYTHING seems like a waste of time.

I have no idea what that is supposed to mean.

Testing is important to ensure that a plain copy actually works. While in the vast majority of cases it simply works, it cannot be assured. And if your only concern is time spent rebuilding the whole thing, running the installer is again more efficient and with a greater chance of correct working.
Why do you want to bother with such a thing, anyway?

I'm honestly not sure if I will be able to remember all the settings in all my previous programs, but if it's not worth trying to copy them, then I guess I have no choice. Thanks anyways.