My goodness gracious, this really isn't that complicated. If you suspected a bad drive, what you should have done is determined the manufacturer of the drive and downloaded the manufacturers diagnostic utility. If it reported errors, replace the drive (perhaps under warranty) if not, look elsewhere for the source of trouble. As it appears you replaced the original drive, the new drive is blank and has no operating system hence the error message. You have four choices: Reinstall the original drive and run the appropriate diagnostic utility to see if the drive is actually failing. Leave the new drive in place and reinstall the operating system via the supplied recovery disc which will return the computer as it was when you first opened the box. Once that's up and running, get all the Windows updates and install any software you'd like to use. Of course, you'll loose any data on the old drive. You do not need to download any drivers first unless you've made big hardware changes to the computer. "Big" changes would most likely be video or sound cards. Use the original drive to make a clone (exact copy) of the drive contents on the new drive. Every drive manufacturer includes the necessary software and instructions in the package or makes it available as a free download from their website. While this method will preserve your son's data, if the problem wasn't the drive but rather, say, some corruption in Windows, those problems will continue. Leave the new drive in place and reinstall the old drive. Run the recovery disc, installing Windows to the new drive. As described above, get Windows updates and reinstall any software. Selectively copy data files from the old drive to the new drive. If the diagnostic software indicates impending failure, do this part quickly. Let us know how you want to proceed and if you need additional instructions.

I do pretty much what Homebound does, but just a little differently. First I run CCleaner which does the job of disk cleanup and also cleans the registry if you wish (you don't have to do this if you'd rather not). Then I update Spyware Blaster and Superantispyware and run a scan with "super". I also update Malwarebytes and run a scan with that. Then I run a full scan with my Avast anti virus. Finally, I do a defrag using Auslogics defrag. I find that CCleaner does a better cleanup job than the disk cleanup by Microsoft. Also the Auslogics defrag is faster and does a thorough job with the defrag. I do this every couple of weeks if I've used the comps a lot, or maybe just once a month. My computers run as fast as the day they were new. Oh, one other thing. I use Secunia PSI to make sure all my programs are up to date. Most important of all in the overall maintenance is to make sure you have all the latest Microsoft critical downloads. Watch for them the second Tuesday of each month. If you need more information about any of these help programs, just enter the name in Google search and you will find more information about each one and a good site to download from. I usually use either Downloads.com (CNet) or Major Geeks since I trust both of those sites.

Personally I wish everyone would either use a linux live cd or add Linux to their pc in a separate partition or use the wubi installer to put it into windows itself. At any rate it should be what everyone uses to do their day to day activities online, like surfing, going to forums, checking your web mail, anything like that should be done using linux and there would be much less infections happening. It is so easy to do and so easy to use for those simple chores there really is no reason not to do it. I never surf using windows anymore just too many websites that have been infected and are spreading nasty bugs. Surfing with linux no worries they can't affect you. There is on a daily basis normally nothing I have to switch over to my windows pc for. But should I need it for some of the programs that I use on windows then I do just that switch to that pc do my work there then go back to linux to hit the internet. Using linux to do that kind of simple stuff is a breeze. Plus if you already use firefox you wont' notice you are on linux since you will be using firefox there also. And you can save your bookmarks file from your windows firefox and import it to the linux firefox and have all your faves right there there. Running on live cd will be slower of course than installing it but it is great for starting out so you can see how to use it and not mess anything up. I put up that link to how to order the free cd just for that reason I wish everyone here would go ahead and order at least one to have on hand should your windows ever die on you at least with the live cd handy you can get in and save your files off. I am by no means a linux pro but I sure do know some so anytime anyone needs help please just ask and if I don't know the answer I will find someone who can help! They are very helpful people, and forums available. There is a somewhat new way to use linux on your windows pc using the wubi installer, this is included on the ubuntu and kubuntu live cd. With wubi you choose to install linux to your windows just as if it were any other type of program. Say like you are installing AVG it puts it in it's own folder then if you ever want to get rid of it you go to add remove programs and select it and hit remove. That is what wubi does, it installs linux in windows as a program in it's own folder and does not interfere with anything else on your windows system, if you decide you no longer want it go to add remove programs find it in the list and hit remove. You can select how large you want to let the linux folder be when you install it. here are a couple screenshots to show how simple it is. Screenshots WubiGuide This is yet another way to get linux using wubi Installing Ubuntu From A Windows System With Wubi so lots of ways to get it and use it with out messing with your windows area at all.

I would not have gone for favors either, but it was SO's idea. He has had such little input on the wedding (mostly due to him just taking the path of least resistance and going along) so I wanted to honor his idea. AND, we are trying to go "no plastic" so I was going to have to get glass champagne flutes anyway . . . I figure I will get them and folks can either take them or I will take what is left over, won't be that many. Another thought I just had was beeswax votive candles, in keeping with the "light" theme. I could put a sticker on the bottom with our names and folks could take them home. I actually have a friend who is a beekeeper and makes and sells the candles and has done programs on beekeeping with some of my other friends in attendance. So we have a long standing relationship that would be nurtured by the votives. I can take the votive candles home too, and use what is left over. Could do both candle and flute, not that much. I looked into it and the flutes are only about 1.50 each. I love champagne and I want to at least pretend at my wedding. Also can use a lot of votive candle holders I have at home as table decorations. If some get lost along the way, no great loss. Just locked in the East Coast date, Sept. 29!! One of my good, good friends will be marrying us. My matron and man of honor/best man are coming for a visit tomorrow and we are going to eat, drink and plot!!