monreal_sm

Hello to all. I am new here, and since I have seen that many issues regarding Windows Vista are tackled here, then I thought I might as well give it a try to post this SERIOUS problem of mine.

My aunt has recently acquired a laptop with Windows Vista Home Basic OS installed in it. When I first tried using it to surf the Web, it was a breeze. I then decided to install Mozilla Firefox (the latest version), Yahoo Messenger (also the latest version) and Avast antivirus Home edition. In addition I also had the chance to install Open Office as well. Practicially those four programs were the only ones I installed PRIOR to Vista updating itself after my new software installations. When I last surfed the web via Firefox last night, everything was working fine. I even chatted with an acquaintance via YM as well. My virus database updated itself in a breeze.

Then when I attempted to surf the net this morning, I could not do so thru firefox nor can I even login to yahoo messenger. My antivirus database started giving off warning that it couldnt update. I then uninstalled all of them. Just now I tried to download anew my softwares and when I began installing them, the installations kept producing warnings that so and so cannot be installed or lacking. Yahoo messenger could not download entirely. Thus the only program I can access the internet with is this darn Internet Explorer 7.

Is this a signal that I should reinstall Vista or just relocate to XP? I am not so sure of the latter as the laptop may lose its warranty. What's worse, I don't know if the Vista installation CD would be given to my aunt since this laptop in question was provided by her institution. Separate OS installation CDs cost a lot in our country.

I do hope you can all help me with my dilemma. A million thanks in advance.


Shirley

(If you so decide to further pose questions on this problems, I shall very well answer you as much as I can.)