Hey Morland, Its not that scarey a task once you get used to it. I felt the same way earlier check out http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/ and try http://driverpacks.net/ for drivers the driver base is a GREAT way of installing and getting 90% of all drivers to work on your laptop. Sometimes integrated sound cards do not work but its the best I've seen yet. I hope you do not mind having a DVD install disk.