Several problems after upgrade 7.10 to 8.04. How to repair?

[proch]

Hello everybody!
I use Ubuntu since 5.04, but it is from Edgy that my use became more frequent.

On my laptop (HP Pavilion dv6000) I installed Gutsy without any problem, and upgraded to Hardy via the update manager without remarkable problems.
Now my WiFi card is no longer working, neither the audio, and also the 3D desktop effects (I used the nVidia proprietary driver with Gutsy).

I would like to reinstall Hardy from CD, is it possible to reinstall keeping documents and settings already present?
Do you have any suggestion (what to backup beside my home folder etc) if this is not possible and easy to do?

Thank you guys,
Proch

[Partyboi2]

I would suggest moving you home folder to its own partition that way when you reinstall you will not loose you data and settings that are in your home folder. Here (http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/separatehome) is a howto to move /home folder to its own partition

[proch]

Thanks!
I did it. The other thing I would like to know is there is a quick way to backup also my software. I downloaded several tools and it's not so difficult to do it again but..
And also for my own fstab or grub menu. All these things can be backed up individually, but..

is there an easy way to repair the install?

Thanks again!

[Partyboi2]

have a look at this (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=819396) thread for possible way of backing up your installed packages.
You could also use aptoncd (http://aptoncd.sourceforge.net/)