Why not just try a new hard drive. If you are ok with present desktop, just get a cheap HD (like the Maxtor 200GB that has a rebate @ Office Depot that brings final price to 49.99-pretty sure it's ATA...). Install it, if it works, you can wait out cheaper Vista compatible PC's and pay less because you'd have to buy an upgrade license when Vista released if you bought computer now (you'd get OEM license if you bought computer @ release time-cheaper).