Seems to me that by using 3 browsers you are creating problems for yourself. Each can do anything you need so why not settle on one and use it exclusively? Photos should show in MY Pictures the same way as they did in XP. Right click on the Start button then click to open Windows Explorer in the pop up, you should see the same XP type screen with folders down the left side and the contents of the highlighted folder listed on the right side. Double clicking on a photo should bring the photo up full size in Windows Picture Viewer where you can click arrows to move left or right or click the centre button to have the photos in a slideshow. As regards Microsoft Office do you have the stripped down free version or the real McCoy on a 60 day trial? If a 60 day trial version and you do not want it you can use Wordpad for word processing. You can reach that by Clicking Start, click All programs, click Accessories click Wordpad. Not sure what format Wordpad uses but be sure you set it to .rtf (Rich Text format) so that anyone else can read it on any computer. Or you can download the free Open Office for the full suite or if just a word processor there is Abiword also for free.

Like Debby said, I go to my server and check e-mail deleting a bunch and can tell the really big ones that take forever to download and just delete them before letting OE download the rest for me to read later. I had that problem with umpteen downloading the same thing and nothing else and was stumped. Called the guy that runs our local ISP and he told me to go to the server and dumb me didn't even know I could do that:( After he gave me some simple instructions I was okay and since then, that's what I do and can delete unwanted, looonnng e-mails. Since I'm on dial up, those movies and such they forward take too darn long to download and I just delete them. Doesn't do any good to tell my friends not to send them, they never listen to me.

If lightning took out the computer it may well have taken out the cable modem too. You should check that first. I see far more damage to equipment through the phone lines than through power lines. That's the first thing I'd check.

Do you use a wireless network? Makes moving things around a lot easier, I must say. Our fiber-optic broadband ATT wireless is faster than our old physical-line service. Is he using a large laptop, an all-in-one, or the old hardcase (tower or desktop) with separate monitor, keyboard, and mouse? Assume you have a wireless printer networked up? My DH uses both a desktop unit w/large monitor, an 18-inch laptop, and a tablet. He's moving the desktop into another room, which will remove the mess of cables and cords. Laptop will be used now with one of the sturdier models laptop stations, a heavy-duty "C" stand that tilts and rolls. If you must have the desktop/tower + monitor in the LR, I'd suggest going down to the smallest rectangular work desk possible, possibly student-sized. Something like this, which is only 22" deep x 42" long - has a keyboard tray and the lower shelf can hold the CPU and/or printer. With the little mini-hutch on top, even a big flat-screen monitor will fit and the cubbyholes will take care of the misc office supplies that inevitably accumulate around one's workstation: http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Furniture-of-America-Traditional-Multi-Storage-Pull-Out-Secretary-Writing-Desk/8839018/product.html Does he need a place to lay out paperwork? Get one of these - rare to find a 5-star rating on a folding table, and this one is also extra long. Great when you need to lay out a buffet of drinks and snacks, too: http://solutions.blair.com/p/folding-buffet-table/92602.uts?is=Y&store=14&count=500&intl=n&q=table&keyword=table A good chair that glides easily and can be turned around to serve as extra seating, is essential. People think we're weird for using standard office chairs with casters as DR chairs, until they come to dinner and find that sitting for a couple of hours at our table is actually -- wow, comfortable! HTH! Edited to add: Are you allowed to make holes in the wall? If so, we can personally recommend the Sanus wall-mount, sold at Best Buy, Amazon, or directly from the Sanus website. We just had our 50" Samsung wall-mounted 3 wks ago by a contractor, and now we're kicking ourselves for not doing it sooner! Getting it "off the floor" makes a HUGE difference in the room. This isn't the best photo of it, on the RH side, but the flooring is still being finished so we can't get into the room for a few days. Underneath the TV are three stock white laminate shelves on a simple wall standard system with adjustable brackets. The top shelf is 12" and holds the DVR/cable box and DVD. The bottom two shelves are both 10" shelves, but the middle set of brackets is held on 12" standards. This allows us to move the middle shelf forward where - eventually, when we get back into the room! - we can coil up and better hide all the wires for the other components. The Sanus does NOT move the arm up and down. It pulls out a full 2', swings from side to side, tilts up/down. We have it in the middle of the room so this allows the TV to be seen wherever we're working (this is our master bedrm, but DH has his office in it so we have a similar issue to yours).