A family have asked me to fix their computer (running windows). Their 9 year old messed up all the files and nothing works. I cannot fix it, it needs a fresh install.

I have considered linux, and asked them what they use their computer for, which sums up as:

-Wordprocessing
-Powerpoint
-Internet
-Email
-Saving to floppy to use on other computers.
-Games (solitare)

The only place I see a problem is with the floppy, and the internet.

They probably have a winmodem. Also, I rarely use my floppy drive, but I find I always have to mount it, and then formatting as a windows compatible disk etc...

Is there a way to make the use of the floppy drive more windows like? They really are beginners.

Also, they are doing a course in computers which will teach them windows no doubt.

I think if I can resolve the floppy issue, I could justify the cost of a new modem by comparing it to the cost of a windows installation

Thanks for reading this,

unholy

If they are real beginners and most computer course are for windows, I think they should just use windows. Just install XP

In regards to the floppy-issue:
WHAT are they saving to floppy?
Keep in mind , that most formats get over from one OS to the other just fine.
If they are just saving documents , text-files , images , etc. there's no problem.
It only gets nasty if they try to safe actual programs and/or scripts.

For example : A PDF on Linux is exactly the same PDF (bite for bite) on Windows or Mac.
Just take care of the formatting of the floppy.
(Or rather : go with the default preformatted stuff : works.)

As for the internet : There are several good sites about getting a winmodem(some of them at least) working under linux.Linmodems cpmes to mind , for instance.
You might take a look at the HOWTOs on this very same site.

And , if I may state so boldly , if they are REAL computer.newbs , I'd advice them to quit that beginners-course and start learning Linux instead.
(Would be helpfull , if you offered to play the tutor in that case.)
It's easier to teach a non-tainted mind.....

Powerpoint
I think there's a powerpoint for linux, but it's pretty basic.. if they're using it for school, xp would be the way to go for them..

Floppy
Also on the floppy issue, it is a pain for a beginner to learn how to mount and format as a fat file system.
It doesn't come to mind but I believe there's a way to mount everything at boot and remount when new media is inserted. Don't quote me though.. Using gnome as the windowmanager, you can just right click on the desktop and go down to something and a menu pops out with CD-ROM and FLOPPY and you just click it to mount it (be sure to turn on user mounting!) I don't even have a floppy drive on my system so I'm not an extreme help with that, I just used to use it a little bit to share small files..

The only other issue that would come to mind is installations. If they don't install a lot of programs, alright then.. But, most users want to. RPM's are find and dandy to install, but when it comes to compiling from source, there's dependency issues etc.. can get mind boggling