Computer does not compute!

I would like an honest answer about why my brand new computer needs a 12 hundred step "consumer reprogramming" to become operable? I constantly get Windows has caused a fatal exception OE and OD errors. I also constantly receive WINDOWS has performed an illegal operation and will terminate the program message. Occasionally I get an error mentioning something about C++. I have experienced these messages since I purchased the computer.

Gateway's most recent advice is for me to toil over about 1200 steps for reloading and formatting. I have received so much incompetent technical support from Gateway that I refuse to follow their instructions.

I may be completely paranoid, but I am convinced that stripping my computer of WINDOWS 98 and installing an older version of windows will solve these fatal exception errors, and windows has performed an illegal.... error. Does anyone agree that deleting WINDOWS 98 and using an older version would eliminate these problems?

I am very upset about the performance of this computer. Can any one tell me some honest answers about WHY I am receiving these messages???? I do not want more technical advice, I just want to know the truth about thes messages. I get an aneurysm just glancing at the technical instructions!