Ubuntu is great, but like you said it's not very user friendly to those that are not familiar with Linux based systems. From what I have gathered and looking at the hardware for a mini 9 computer, vista would not be your best choice. You may be able to get vista to install on that system, but due to the harddrive space and the limited memory you would have a very slooow running computer on your hands. Your best bet would be to load windows XP. Sorry to say, but the sales person was very inaccurate offering you an upgrade package for a non window based OS. IThe upgrade is looking for a windows based system, when you have a linux based system installed on your computer. You should take it back and get an exchange or refund.

If you install windows XP it will be very user friendly and run fairly well on the mini 9. Also you will be able to find the drivers for the mini 9 here on the dell site. The drivers are very critical and insure that you computer runs smoothly. Ubuntu is really an awesome system and is getting closer to the user friendliness of Windows, but still has a long way to go.

    So installing vista would not really be a positive change from your current linux based system, due to the limits of the mini 9. XP is your best choice to a user friendly based system.

Thanks.  That's what I figured.  The external drive we have borrowed is a CD-Rom drive.  Am I correct in that we need a DVD/CD combo drive to run the installation of Windows?

    You will need a full copy of Windows XP Home or Windows XP professional, not Windows Vista. You can still use the CD-Rom drive that you borrowed, because window XP comes on a CD-Rom media disk. Were as Vista comes on a DVD-Rom media disk.

     You could attempt to install Vista, but again I would not recommend it because it will take alot more time and headaches, (very similar to what you are experiencing with Ubuntu), to get it up and running properly. Plus again it will run extremely slow and may crash, because of the mini 9's hardware limitations.

     Good luck to you and post if you have any questions and here is a link for all the drivers you will need to install after you have installed Windows XP:

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&ServiceTag=&SystemID=INSPIRON910&os=WW1&osl=en&catid=&impid=

Ubuntu is actually MUCH more user-friendly than any version of Windows to date.  You need to give it some more time.  Then again, if you're stupid enough to have thought you could "upgrade" Windows without first having Windows, then I suppose you get what you deserve.

Wow, harsh aren't we hackel?  I said I wasn't too computer savvy and that's why I asked for help in the first place.  Knowing the ins and outs of computers is not my calling in life.  Thanks anyway.

Thanks, I appreciate your help.

NP, glad to help and i just ignore that type of statement.  Nothing productive.

Yes I would ignore smart remarks. I am still making plenty of mistakes in my life especially with my pc!Long may it be so!

Anyway ..is there any specific thing we can help with as regards what you currently have installed ie your ubuntu to make it less hassle for now until you have sorted the windows issue out?

What are the three biggest bug bears for you ? Then when we can see if we can sort them...maybe life will be a little less painful and you might start to enjoy your laptop. Cannot guarentee it but ubuntu in my experience is very good and largely sortable to be excellent

I think I finally have it figured out for now.  I have installed Windows and it is running fine.  Maybe I'll give Ubuntu another try in the future, but for now, we are happy.  Thanks for asking. 

How did you do this? Mine installs all files and reboots and start all over again. If I unplug after files install it says no operating system found. Arrrrggghhhh!!!!