updating 8.04 to 10.04 plese help

[stoppage]

Hi I'm about to update from Ubuntu 8.04 LTS to 10.04.1 LTS. I`m hoping somebody can help me with the following two questions.....
Do I get the oportunity during the update to carry forward settings and/or software (some cost me a real headache to setup initially, e.g. Scanner from Epson).
Is there a sofware I can use to store settings/config and/or software packets from 8.04 so that one click restores everything should some setting not be carried forward during update (I'm thinking here of something similar to a „save registry settings“ from Windows). Much obliged for any help here

[elija]

System wide settings are held in the /etc/ directory and user settings are in hidden files and folders in the users home directory. I wouldn't recommend blindly copying the 8.04 /etc over the 10.04 /etc as there may be changes in the way things are configured. The same applies to the configuration data in your home directory.

There's a two year gap between the Ubuntu versions you are talking about so there may be better support for your scanner built in now. It might be worth booting a live CD and checking it out.