Windows problem

kept getting an error in IE7 about Skype - it would crash my IE7 session. It was pretty easy to disable in the Add-ons menu but it is the kind of thing that happens a lot in XP. Because keep wanting to set things up for you. Virgin shoved loads of stuff at me -changed the outlook express settings that I had espicially set up exclusively for R. tha really pissed me off. In ubuntu the connect was just automatic - no rubbish was bunged onto my setup. I installed skype for a very rare internet phone chat that I organised with orangejon. It apparently added something to IE7 that I've now disabled. My new HP printer was more of the same - though I do feel happier having some of the crap there. In otherwords the crap isn't all crap. the choices and controls in Ubuntu are abit limited - but on the other hand it was nearly effortless to set up. there are more advanced soptions (checking ink-levels) but I am not entirely sure how to get there (it might only be partially supported though I chose HP because I knew it was well supported - I didn't check an exact model however. Anyway as I am dual booting I can use the other features in XP. I am happy enough being able to switch between normal and economy printeing of basic docs and web pages.