Ok, pseudo convert needs a laptop repair.  A 4 year old Gateway.  Please reinstall XP, get it right, and Linux on the dual boot, for Internet use without the issues.

Can do. 

Linux install, start to finish, with a slew of popular apps someone might need, and all drivers working, about 1 hour.

Then, the XP nightmare.  This particular Gateway needed driver files, special ones, even to get it's ethernet connection working.  All in all, about 8 non-working hardware devices (remember - this is an XP install from the supplied Gateway restore disk).  After feeling like I couldn't possibly get an internet connection up and working, I realized the Linux side of the house was already going well, so I used it, got onto Gateway's site, and downloaded the Ethernet driver from them (and yes, I know you can't recognize the Windows system I am dowmloading this driver for, please give me the file, anyway).  Mounted the Windows partition, and saved the necessary driver to the Windows file area.

Rebooted the PC back into windows, and corrected the ethernet driver.  9 major downloads later, and at least 9 reboots later, I finally had a system that I could go out and start the MS upgrade process on.  A few hours later, a fully functuioning PC, only about 4.5 hours from dead to fully functioning.

Somehow, it doesn't seem like a fair fight, does it?

Surf Safe

ezsurfer