Verdict: SUCCESS! Only took *mumbletwentysixhours*, most of which involved nLiting XP, loading it to a CD, failing to boot the CD, loading it to a USB, failing to install, changing the installation file, repeat ad nauseum. The point is, I figured it out, and I've now done it twice, huzzah! Just now re-installing AVG and VLC and a few necessities on Madison and then I will have my poor little Eee all set up once more. *pets it*
Except for still having no skin. *pouts*
Ah, well. Point is: done. Now we have thirty days to call Microsoft and get our old SP1 key re-activated. Technically we used an SP3 disc to install to both, but we have at least two other valid, legally-purchased keys that Windows is claiming are invalid. Evidently if you use a post-SP1 disc to install and then use a pre-SP1 key to activate, it doesn't recognise it - so we're going to have to do what Dad used to do when this came up, namely: call India and shout at them until they relent.
Well, probably not shout. They give in to us pretty easy these days - probably comes of most people being too lazy after three re-installs to bother complaining, and going out and buying new copies, instead. (Which is, of course, what they hope you'll do.)
To do for tomorrow:
-Move Mum's network hub out of Dad's old office, upstairs into the kitchen.
-Catalog more books (good news: we're well over half since yesterday, bad news: we've probably got another 800 or so to go, gah).
-Get a haircut.
-Possibly Christmas shopping.
-Call and make appointments with dentist and doctor.
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-Edit at least three chapters of Riverwend. I'm going to have to go back to Staples and buy some craft paper or something, because re-plotting the first section of this book is going to require index cards and possibly yarn.
-Write Xmas-present fic! I think there are at least three. o.O
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And when I get home, Amanda Palmer and playing with my brand-new copy of Adobe CS4 Masters Collection. I love you too, educational pricing. :)