A few thoughts. I switched to mac a few months ago, but was always good on my windows upkeep.
- Symantec Endpoint Protection 11 is what I got for free from school. Don't know the cost, but I have been very pleased. It never pops up with useless crap unless you actually get hit with something via email or a bad website. Even the updating, if set properly, is entirely in the background. Again, don't know the cost associated with it as I had it free, but I recommend it if it is within the budget.
- If Sr. is good with Firefox then keep FF... why mess with a good thing. I only wish I could get my own parents off of IE.
- The external HD is tough. I would NOT format it. The problem is Windows cannot format a drive that large in anything other than NTFS (I think). FAT can't go that big. FAT32 can, and the HD is probably already FAT32. I say this because that leaves the HD compatible with both Mac and Windows in case there is a switch down the road. If you go NTFS and ever want to switch to a Mac you have a major headache. I would just leave it permanently stationed by a desk or whatever and have it periodically plugged in for a backup. Only the higher-end versions of Vista do a full backup with their built-in backup. The lower-to-mid versions of Vista just backup certain files (music, pix, email, etc.) but not the whole system.
- Another backup issue. The only other way I can think of to get "out of the same room backup" is with HD is setup with a router that has a USB port and the router is out of the same room. Other than that, you're looking at some Network based storage device.
- For WordPerfect. Can't you just right-click a .wpd file and choose "Open With" and then when you pull up Word 2007 make sure you check the box that says "Always use this program...." That way .wpd files always open with Word. As for a conversion wizard to address all the files... Word may have such a feature but I have no idea.
- Finally - and Most Important
If you want to do it "right" then you should find the DVD of Vista that came with the computer and do a complete new install. You have to insert the DVD and figure out how to boot from the DVD. Sometimes you have to hit Del or F11 or something to go into BIOS and change the boot order. Sometimes if you restart with the DVD in you will see something like "hit any key to boot from disc" and just hit any key. Once there you want to do the 'advanced' install and get to the parts about partitioning the hard drive. Once there delete the current partition you see (C: drive). Once that's deleted you want to create a new partition and just set the size to the maximum allowable. This is a fresh new partition. Then, tell Vista to install onto the brand new C: drive partition you just made. This gets rid of all the crapware. The only problem with this is if there is anything that was loaded on the Dell you do want, you need to reinstall it with the discs you hopefully got with the computer. If you keep the antivirus you got, that will need a new install. You may also want to install things like the disc burning software that came with the computer, and possibly a DVD-playing program unless you like the Windows-based dvd players. Finally, the Vista disc you have was probably pressed some time ago, so after the full install is complete, expect to spend at least a couple hours just doing Windows Update over and over until it says you're up-to-date. Note that even if you do this first thing, after you install Office and several other programs, new things will pop up in Windows Update and you just have to keep doing it.
That's all I can think of for now.