Acebaxter - thanks for that - yes, I am aware that I can expect no Microsoft assistance, but really as I am making a bog standard computer, why do I need this anyway. I just want to bung the disc in and when it has booted up, it asks me for a serial number. Then, when it accesses theMicrosoft site, I don't want it to tell me that the serial number isn't valid!
G.G. thanks for that as well - it gives me some idea as what to expect, indeed, thanks everyone for your comments so far.
P.P.