Ok right after I got back from the conference my desktop computer died an ugly death. So I have been struggling on with my laptop which really isn't up to all the things I like to do at the same time.
So I bit the bullet and went out and bought another computer. Got a real deal because I didn't want their hard drive. I was quite happy with my 200GB drive vs their 1.5. I didn't need their version of Win XP Pro because I have my own. Didn't need their 1 G of RAM when I have 4 just waiting to slide into their sockets.
I was prepared to have to reformat my drive and install every one of my programs.
Technology is pretty damned good sometimes.
Put all the pieces together and instead of asking to install Windows it just went on ahead and started up. I did have to add a D-Link card for my ethernet. This is the second computer that I have had that really does not like the onboard ethernet.
Anyways. Nothing is lost. I don't have to reinstall anything.
They just want me to authenticate Windows again. I am doing the happy dance.