Another (cheaper) idea I am going to try: my wife just got a Compaq Presario 700 for her work that she is willing to let me use. I found I can buy another hardrive over the internet for $169 (20 gigs, I believe). I am going to try to install Mdk 8.1 (or 8.2) on this drive and use it; then when she wants it back, just pop her drive back in. Voila!