often times you will have to ask for their free wifi code, even though it is free they want to make sure only their customers are uisng the free wifi, not all do that but I have been at a few that did. But other than that yes you just turn on the wifi antenna switch on the netbook and it will search for any available networks and show them to you in a list it will say if they are secured or unsecured, you can not access a secured one with out a password. For example mine here at home is secured so when my family comes to visit I have to give them my wifi access code to enter in their laptop so they can then use my wifi. Usually DSL come with a modem, which has several places in it to add some extra lines so all you would need is just another one of the ethernet cables like the one that goes from your modem to your desktop pc and plug that in from the back of the modem into your netbook so you can use the dsl you currently have. NO there is no additional charge when you add another pc. I agree that you will be able to use your netbook a lot more if you bought yourself a wifi router to plug into that modem, then you could use your netbook wirelessly anywhere in your house. I picked mine up at walmart.

Most likely if you're getting that message---> Please wait while Windows configures Skype 4.2. ---> you're uninstalling through the add/remove programs in normal mode. Every time that you reboot, the program will begin at start up if configured to and a registry key will run. Try to Boot to safe mode and uninstall the Program if you continue to have problems. Skype probably runs as a service as well as at start up. Booting into safe mode will prevent the program from starting up and doesn't load the registry keys. Once you have done that, click on your C:Drive > Program files > and delete all the Skype folders found. See if that helps. Donna

all you need to make sure of is that it is a usb plug in, that it will read and BURN DVD's if it does it will most likely also do various other things including CDs. They are not very expensive, I picked one up on clearance at Staples for under $20. There are many out there that are only players not burners since you will want to use it to make your discs you need one that also burns. use this search string on google to find lots of results usb external cd dvd rw burner drive for laptop netbook some will require an ac adapter some not, for the most portable you want one that does not, some will require use of 2 usb ports to help power it, if it will be mostly used at home getting one that has both options would be best so you can plug it into power when you are home and use only usb power when traveling. If you have windows 7 starter on your netbook be aware you do not have a media player on that OS you will need to download and install a media player, I like VLC free. In general it is simply plug and play that easy plug in the usb cord and start using it. the x in the number such as 8x or 6x or 12x is the speed it will write to DVD or CD. the bigger the faster not really that important unless you will be doing a lot of burning. You may run into some that also use blu ray format which means they will play and or burn to blu ray discs and will be much more expensive. Here is a search from newegg that gives you a lot of choices and some great user reviews of the models, I love newegg for the reviews and I have ordered from them many times. Here is a link that might be useful: newegg

you may be much better off simply using an imaging program and simply create an image of the system so that should something happen you can simply use that image to restore the pc, operating system and all. You can buy image programs like Acronis True image but there are a few good free ones. Here is a link to an article that evaluates a few. 8 free software to image/backup/ghost your computer (free alternatives to Acronis True Image, Norton Ghost, etc.). then once you have that program you can create new images every so often so they are up to date. you can back up to dvd or cd or flash drive or an external usb drive. If you need to get your windows cert key number from that pc in case you do not know what it is you can download this neat little program that will give you that info and it would also be a great idea to install belarc and let it run a scan and you can print off the info so you know exactly what is on that pc. Belarc Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder v2.0.1