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[Tom <question76245@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Question #76245 on Ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/76245

    Status: Open => Answered

Tom proposed the following answer:
Oh, i hope i'm not tooo late because installing a dual-boot in such
circumstances is often a great way of repairing the Windows side or at
worst (hopefully) at least allows you to access your data from the
Windows partition.  Also it's a good idea to practice installing as a
dual-boot because invariably anyone who sees how fast and smooth Ubuntu
runs will probably want you're help in getting their system to be just
as good - but they'll be wary about their time-of-transition.

One way a linux dual-boot can help repair a "dead" Windows machine is
simply because it installs and sets up a linux-boot-loader, bypassing
the Windows one.  Another way is that missing files such as ".dll"s and
perhaps hopefully your "nvlddmkm" can be found via google or copied from
another machine and carefully placed in the right place via your linux.
It's amazing how often that works! :)

Yes, i t will take a while to get used to linux.  It's probably taken years to get used to Windows but you'll probably find that linux takes just a few weeks or maybe a month or so before you feel comfortable with it.  Most of the big and most technical problems are at the start, things soon tend to settle down a lot.  I thought you might like a couple of guides to help your transition 
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwitchingToUbuntu/FromWindows
http://appdb.winehq.org/

Note that the Wine in the repos is more stable than the one form the Wine website which is a beta-test release so stick to installing it via 
Applications - Add/Remove Applications
or 
System - Administration - Synaptic Package Manager
rather than downloading off the website.  This is generally true of most other programs and packages too.  Note they both have search tools, i prefer the button one in synaptic because it searches descriptions as well as titles so i can be a lot more vague about what type of program i'm looking for ;)

Also i thought you might like this for a quick & fun read
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Antivirus

Really the first thing to do after install (and playing around a lttle) is to sort out all your multi-media stuff (such as skype, movie-playing, perhaps google-earth and stuff) by working through this guide
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Medibuntu

Don't expect everything to be perfect straight away, just build up what
you know and what you can tweak into working better for your needs on
your hardware.  It's different for each of us.  You'll soon get there.

Good luck and regards from
Tom :)

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