linux is great for kids to use! if you have an old pc that you could not get to work well with windows anymore because it is just old and not powerful then it will probably run linux just fine since linux uses much less space and memory. Just use one of the live cd's and run it right off the cd rom drive if you want, they can still use the browser to surf all they want and pretty much anything else they want to do but nothing gets installed and nothing gets infected! Once you have the browser up it is just like using firefox on windows, I had company recently that asked if they could use my pc to check email and play some online games etc, I said sure and I pulled up firefox for them and after about 10 mins I walked over and said everything ok? Yes fine. I said so have you used linux before, NO , well you are now! they could not believe it, I had to prove it to them. They left my house with the instructions on getting a copy! Those grandkids just do the darnedest things LOL

I saw the title of this thread and was sure my husband must have found this site! hee hee He says I'm completely addicted, and I am. I am retired and I spend way too much time on my PC. The only thing that saves me is I love the outdoors so I do make myself get off and go do my chores. When I give hubby lunch and he sits down in front of ESPN on TV, then I take my lunch break with Huey (that's my PC's name....silly huh?) After dinner then he resumes his spot in front of the TV and I'm back in the bedroom with Huey. In the Winter I follow a couple of TV shows, but it is hard to pull myself away, that goodness for DVR!! My Mom lives across the US and we have been e-mailing almost daily since '98 when we first got our computers. She is 82 and had a stroke this year and has been unable to use her machine and I really miss talking to her. She used to keep me supplied with computer games....Pop Cap and Big Fish which are pretty addictive. I have several forums that I check in on; I do my banking, pay my bills, and shop. I used to do a lot of genealogy but haven't for awhile, too busy with everything else. I love Facebook....great way to keep in touch. My Mom and I both have Mastercook which we keep our recipes on plus I love Allrecipes.com and it's forum. I have all my photos on my PC. I have 2 desktops and a laptop which keep me busy keeping them in working condition as you may notice from my many posts here. Am I sick or what!!! I could go on and on! hee hee PS, Raven, what is that thing, "pandigital novel"??? How much do they cost?

I just turned my computer on for the first time today, Tuesday. The first time the hard drive light stayed on for a second and turned off. The second time the hard drive light flickered 3 times and then went off. The third time the hard drive light came on solid and then flickered 3 times and then the black screen came up saying "We apologize for the inconvenience but Windows did not start successfully....." But then Windows proceeded to load and my computer is now working. I do not hear any beeping sounds. I'd appreciate any more ideas you have with this information. I am taking a video of the lights blinking with my iPhone which makes it easy to remember what happened. Thanks, Ginny

Thanks for the advice, and I am heading over to the link now. I have Home XP, 2004 HP pavilion a410e, and as my PC was working fine after installing the power supply, but started slowing down a day or day and half later believe that is when I got infected. I have used Norton for 6? years without trouble and is on auto update. However, it is possible that the trojan/virus did something there. I tried to contact Norton and was very distressed to find that it was difficult to reach them through site or email. It took several tries for me to even find the contact site, or the discussion forum; but then couldn't register or use chat to speak with a tech. That was probably on my end and I needed to adjust some setting = but it sure didn't set well with me. thanks again, heading to link!