Every *buntu release has a
.manifest
or.list
file that lists pre-installed packages. This file is located online.For example:
Ubuntu 12.04.2 32bit ➜ http://releases.ubuntu.com/precise/ubuntu-12.04.2-desktop-i386.manifest
Ubuntu 11.04 32bit ➜ http://releases.ubuntu.com/natty/ubuntu-11.04-desktop-i386.manifest
Ubuntu 11.04 64bit ➜ http://releases.ubuntu.com/natty/ubuntu-11.04-desktop-amd64.manifest
Kubuntu 11.04 32bit ➜ http://releases.ubuntu.com/kubuntu/11.04/kubuntu-11.04-desktop-i386.list
...and so on.