Computer Help and Support

and others here will probably have better information and advice to give to you, but it's my opinion that you should not let a new operating system be written over the old one. If you can't get your current machine to work properly, either take it to an expert you trust, or give serious thought to purchasing something new. Every time I wander through the laptop section of my local Best Buy I'm astonished at how inexpensive many of them are. It might be worthwhile to go to a store like that and talk things over with the staff.

Good luck to you!