Vista Security!

[Dreadful Scathe]

Yep - there is Acer software that prompted me to do this right at the start - only required 2 DVDs. But I have lots of questions - can I do this again now with the same software? What effect does this have on all my files, email account settings etc. How do I boot off a DVD if need to? The one I did at the start was for (I guess) an emergency if everything crashes. This is a little different.

Yes indeed it is. Your ACER restore DVDs will recover everything to its state on install, simply by booting off the first DVD. Which means you always have a backup but you will, as you say, lose anything you've installed after that.

If you are using Thunderbird for email that there are just 2 folders you need to backup to restore all settings and emails (and if you use Portable Thunderbird just one folder) not sure about backing up Outlook or Outlook Express as I've never used it (I'm sure the only reason people ever DID use the nasty inbuilt windows software is because they didn't know there were alternatives).

Something like Norton Ghost will create a boot DVD for you and allow you to backup at anytime - Ill have a look but I'm behind in my "send you this" quota for people so bare with me

[Lynn]

I was asking myself the other day if there was any good reason that I should get Vista. My XP is perfectly OK as it is. Why put myself through bother and hassle just because some people say its the 'next thing you must have'? I think I'll just stick with what I have.

...so bare with me

Sounds a bit kinky!

[WittyBird]

I might not understand everything the reviews say. So I thought I would ask here instead as much wiser people can advise me.

Anyone got any more reviews I can read?

That makes no sense at all