Assuming you are using an apt/dpkg distro:

Save the list of packages on your reference system:

dpkg --get-selections > packages.lst

Then install packages based on that list on your target system, after updating the list of available packages:

dpkg --merge-avail <(apt-cache dumpavail)
dpkg --clear-selections
dpkg --set-selections < packages.lst
apt-get dselect-upgrade

Ubuntu with snaps disabled is my daily driver…

I agree, it isn’t by all means comparable to the windows way of pushing ads in your face.

The only thing I really have issues with is the move to snaps. They are just too slow (even on i5 elitedesk it is noticeable. It should have been made optional in my opinion.

Rewriting history maybe should not have been the first cause of action, resetting the password would have been the sane option here.

Not judging though 😉

Look for refurbished elitedesk g5, it runs debian magnificantly! I splurged a bit on the memory and ssd and have a quite nice desktop (developer).

Nightmare scenario. Glad to see you found a solution!