Re-installing my trusty little Thinkpad Z60T is a process that I've been through a dozen times since I first fired this little beauty up in late 2005. It's had just about every flavour of operating system installed from Windows95 through Vista to various flavours of Linux (Ubuntu was definitely my favourite by the way)

After this morning nasty little virus interlude, and as it's just been a long time since I last installed anything exciting on it, I think it's time to try out the Windows Seven Beta... or maybe Ubuntu... or perhaps just plain old Windows... [insert hmmmmmm here]

So this is the process that going to happen this afternoon... probably...

Install Windows 7 - I've download the Beta from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/beta-download.aspx

- or -

Install Ubuntu - from http://www.ubuntu.com - its neat and just simply works, but, I had some problems with skype last time so I'm not sure... that was about a year ago mind you.  :-/

- or -

Since upgrading (now thats an arguable thing to say) to Windows Vista I've been getting this really annoying LOCAL ONLY error message when connecting to my Wireless network.   It allows me to connect to the network OK but i cant get through it onto the web. I can see all my local devices, log onto the router, but cant get outside the network ie: onto the world wide interweb superhighway net thingie

I've spent far too many hours of my life playing with DHCP, changing IP addresses, joining networks, leaving networks, running around finding an ethernet cable to get online so was delighted when I found a work-around for this wireless local only problem on the Microsoft website:  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928233/en-us

So, the pointy-heads at Microsoft recognise that there is a problem with networking in Vista, which may be down the the fact that the DHCP BROADCAST is set to 0 in Windows XP but is different to Vista! Apparently this can cause problems with some wireless routers or acces points. I've just applied it so will report back on the on-going evil LOCAL ONLY problem....

Heres the Microsoft article. It's relatively simple to do you just need to be able to type accurately and use the CoRrecT CaSE where indicated: