I'm still up and running. I want to make an image backup before I load the Samsung firmware, but my damn DVD drive keeps telling me I have bad media. I'm going to try a firmware upgrade on the DVD and if that doesn't work, I'll try to find out which types of DVD's work with my LG drive.
Or, I'll just go buy a new drive

. Aren't computers fun??
Thanks for the offer to help me with setting up a Flash drive as bootable, MM.
Can I use my 256 MB drive or do I need a bigger flash? Where can I get the software to meake it bootable? I tried Microsoft and got nowhere.