If he's still able to dowload and install go there with the laptop, download installer and run ubuntu like an app inside windows, just that simple http://wubi-installer.org/
LAsBSOD at work on XP SP2 related to virtual drive still mounted on usb key (16 G Kingston data traveler 2 piece of crap) while shuting down. IT released SP3 Corporatewise and I got a 16 G Verbatim and no problem since. All past others said someth...
Most of the time yes. Not only close family, but step one and friends and coworkers. I always a call going like bla bla bla ... by the way..... I don't feel sorry for it though, I just can't help to fix things even when Idon't care about someone.
on hand built AMD tower (oldy), one Dell XPS 420, a regular SE cell phone bluetooth optimized, home secured wireless network, 16 Gb thumb drive with a hell of a collection of portable apps