W8 is very, very diff from XP, and yes you can screw it up if you don't know what you are doing. are you talking about IE browser on one of the tiles on boot up? or are you going to desktop mode? what is it you are trying to do exactly?

The same color looks much darker on a horizontal surface than a vertical one. I have the same color on our screened porch siding, wood floor and ceiling and it looks completely different on each of those three surfaces. High ceilings look better with a darker paint, imo (unless they have a lot of plaster medallion ornamentstion in a really formal room--- those are best left white).This is our library colour scheme....BM Golden Straw on the walls, BM Linen on the molding, SW custom green black on the doors and transom and SW China Doll on the 14 ft ceiling. I was lying in the sofa and was struck with the similarity of wall and ceiling combination with your room. Of course, it looks totally different during the day and at different times of the day :-)

As pip hints....now is a great time to feed! Also, almost all knowledgeable avo growers use mulch. It is beneficial in many ways...including keeping the weeds at bay. This time of year avocado trees can look a little rough....especially because of drought/lack of water. Don't fret about the cardboard...I am sure you will be fine.

If you're not willing, or don't have the time, to put in the effort than you are not going to have a decent lawn. If you have the money, get someone to come in and slit seed and fertilize your lawn as soon as possible. It's getting a little late to do this in NJ. I did it a month ago and am having great results. My lawn was totally dead from the drought