Win7 RC expiring soon, Best way to start anew.

Hi, as all of us still running the windows 7 release client know, it will be switching to automatic shutdown (after 2 hours) mode in a couple of weeks. Microsoft has stated that the only way to continue computing is to do a clean install of the new OS.

I am wondering if anyone has suggestions for the best way to go about reinstalling the operating system. I don't really want to back up anything and restore a backup. A fresh install is what my computer needs anyway.

Specifically, I am looking for a few things

• A way to scan my computer for all installed programs (that will also scan for no-install standalone programs)
• The easiest way to download and reinstall all those programs (anyone try AllMyApps?)
• Ways to make a reinstall easier in the future.
• Are there any logs that show changes i have made to the registry (or anything for that matter) over time.

The amount of stuff is such that I get the error where everything disappears from the start menu. Windows 7RC can't seem to handle over 100 shortcuts in C/ProgramData/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu/Programs/
You know how it is, it just seems like we all customize our computers so much that it seems like an impossible feat just to get it back to the way it is right now.

Any suggestions or steps I should take when I finally bite the bullet would be greatly appreciated.