I have been working with computers since the commodore 64 but haven't done any programming for about ten years.  I am most familiar with the XP OS and always build my own computers so I can have control over what I deem is most important.  However, I do not work in an IT setting and so therefore I have little access to other computer literate people who might be able to solve my problems.  Thus it is either trial and error or depending on someone like the people on this site to help me solve my questions or the questions of my friends and co workers who consider me a "go to guy" when it comes to solving computer problems.