Best way to transfer ALL HD data to new computer?

[Gene]

A friend is buying a new computer, and wants to transfer ALL data, exactly as is, from the old computer to the new one. We're talking operating system, the gazillion programs and files, etc. so everything still works as it did on the old system without having to reinstall from disks. Is there a safe and easy way to accomplish this?

 

[Virgil]

If the computer is using Windows XP, there's an option in the original installation disk that allows that; it recreates all preferences and settings too. He could also create an image of the hard drive (I've done that too) with an utility like Ghost, but it seldom works flawlessly, SPECIALLY with Windows OS, due to the hardware changes.