Starting over.

[dumbluck]

This time with a brand-spanking-new computer. Hopefully I can stay around a bit longer this time.

*dumbluck grumbles about OS meltdowns before wandering off to do chores*

[Suicide Junkie]

Unless you let some magic smoke out, odds are good that old PC can be fixed right up with a format c: and reinstall

Having a second PC is great for keeping the main one clean.

[dumbluck]

yep. I have an XP disk..... and no auth. code to go with it..... I was hoping that I could turn it into a backup location, or possibly a hardware firewall. (I heard rumors there was a linux out there that would do that, but I haven't investigated....)

[Suicide Junkie]

Putting linux on it for a safe internet browsing box & file archive is good.

[Atrocities]

Buy a new code for your copy of XP. You can get them from Microsoft. (Better yet, buy a new computer, get the info from that, then return it. ) NO crap, that happened to my neighbor, bought a brand new computer from Best Buy, took it home, set it up, and when he was prompted to register XP, it told him that his registration number was invalid. Then he found a disk in the CDRom drive. Took it apart, boxed it up, and returned it to Best Buy. When they tried to charge him their customary restocking fee, he told them to go to hell that they had sold him a used computer. He proved it too. The inside of the case was filled with dust. They gave him his money back and he ordered a Dell. (shudder). But he is very happy with it.