Installing an OS and setting up a computer is something I have done since I have been 9 or so, and started playing with my own computer. When things aren't working, you fix them. If it is Microsoft Windows, any attempts to fix it will cause it to crash horribly and you end up reinstalling the operating system again. The more you do it, the more adept you get at it. I still have my Windows 95 and 98 CD Key's memorized. By now, installing an OS should be a simple, painless task. I just got back from this painless task, and yes, it really is 4:00 in the morning. Since all the details would be boring, here are the more amusing highlights.
When I arrived at Jessica's house and looked at the machine, she told me her second CD was disconnected because it wasn't working. The problem I quickly learned was that both drives were set to Master, causing the conflict. Apparently people had fought with this for hours in an attempt to get it to work. Five minutes and 4 screws later, it was back to trying to install the OS. And that was where the problem was. Installation of Windows 98 SE failed not once, not twice, but three times because the CD was having issues reading the CAB files. I grabbed the files it complained about off of another computer and placed them onto a 3.5. 18 files later, the problems with the two misbehaving CAB files were solved, and Windows was able to finish installing. By this time, it was beyond midnight, and mind you this doesn't include any other software, this is just the basic thing that lets the computer turn on without crashing.
Microsoft Office was smooth (for once), and Norton gave me fits, so I just left it off. The computer turns on again, prints, does homework, and can go online. Aside from playing music, how much more is there? Do when all was said and done, three things were installed on Jess' machine, and those three things took a little more than 7 hours to complete. I would say I'm not going to lose sleep over it, but since I already have (by about 4 hours) there isn't too much I can do about it.
It must be the season for redesign. Kitsune just threw up a hot sexy layout. You so go revel in her bee-ness. Now. Yes, stop reading this, go back, and click that link.
have a go
In response to "Never Sleeps":
You rawk. :)
Thanks.