>>>>You guys have all convinced me. I am going to just transfer data files, and even have the luxury of some time (three weeks) to do so. The only other thing I need to do to the new laptop as shipped is uninstall Microsoft Works and McAfee ;-) (And install AVG).
>>>
>>>We're still using an old Word97 copy I have. Still fulfils 99% of our domestic word processing needs. Really didn't like Word 2007. Now if only I could find my old copy of Wordstar :-)
>>
>>You are not alone... a copy of Office97 runs with a few hiccups even with no install from USB stick...
>
>I have one laptop that only runs the OS, dev tools, and open office/thunderbird (also AVAST and Comodo and Spybot). It's my emergency backup laptop and due to the limited apps and junk on it, it runs faster than all of the other laptops and pc's.....

Excellent idea. Maybe if I can figure out the overheating issue on Allie's laptop I will put it to that use.

BTW, I didn't really address the overheating in the original post. It periodically shuts itself down. When you reboot it displays Dell error M1004, which says it shut down in self-defense due to overheating. It says the primary causes are being in too hot an environment -- not! <g> -- or fan blockage. I went online and followed the suggestion of blasting compressed air into the vents over (under) the fan. No cure. Another suggestion was to remove the bottom panel and blast air around there as well. Still no cure. It's a refurbished machine so maybe it was just a lemon from the start. They refurbished it for a reason, after all ;-)