[taxcontrol]

You can probably save you kid's PC without spending the $300 by converting it to run Linux. However, this may require you to develop some computer skills with regards to downloading an iso image and burning to cd / dvd and installing the Linux versions of the programs/utilities that you mentioned. For example, OpenOffice provides word processing, spread sheets, etc.

[SoftballMominVA]

My hubby mentioned this as a possibility - Ubuntu? I think he said

Of course the problem is that I don’t have to learn anything. She has to learn it being as she is 400 miles away!

So, we installed Linux and ran that, then the computer would not run Windows and then it would not have these annoying update notices and service packs?