bernie,
i can only heartily recommend loading and using linux mint. it looks and appears to function (for the very most part) just like most any windows. but instead of that dang dumb buggy virus laden microsoft product, what you have is pretty much bomb proof UNIX - arguably the best defacto operating system that's used by the military, governments and businesses. you'll still have email spam, but no virus software required.
linux mint comes preloaded with a suite of excellent applications that includes a full clone of microsoft office (it will read/write all office docs, spreadsheets, presentations and databases), a superb graphics and video editors, firefox browser and thunderbird email apps, and thousands of other FREE apps to download and install.
FREE? yes. all of the above is free of any charge or fee. how do they do this??? open source code, public domain.
i always recommend loading linux mint ALONG with your current windows operating system. that will allow you to choose which operating system you wish to load when you turn on your computer.
for ANYTHING to do with the internet or email, ALWAYS use linux mint - no virus issues. load windows if you have special applications that will only run with windows. HOWEVER, there is a linux mint interface application called WINE that will allow a fair number of windows applications to be run within the linux operating system.
to load linux mint, go to their website and download linux mint 14 nadia MATE - either the 32bit or 64bit computer version - if you don't know what bit rate your computer is, use the 32bit version as that will work with all computers.
www.linuxmint.com/download.php pick a server site ("mirror") to download the ISO linux mint os file. it is a very large file, close to 1 gig in size. depending on your internet connection bandwidth speed, and that of the host server, downloading can take from 10 to 40 minutes. go do something fun and let the bits and bytes do their thingy. :D
after downloading the linux mint ISO file, you will burn it to a dvd using any dvd burning software.
load the linux mint dvd. it will allow you use linux mint off of the dvd, without loading it on your machine. however, since it's on a dvd, you can't write anything, only read/look/listen. there is an icon on the linux mint desktop for installation. click it and follow the instructions - you WILL want to load it along side your windows operating system.
if the above linux mint downloading and loading seems or feels a bit daunting to you, get any high school kid to help you - most teenagers can do this stuff in their sleep. :D
enjoy!