I have gone through the entire thread and here are my observations. actually there is nothing for me to write because JTD has done it all to perfection. I am not saying who is right and who is wrong that is not the point any ways. but I had said this earlier and saying it again, "Please educate your self before passing any comment or generalising on any thing ". let's except that we have limited knowledge and as far as help or solutions are concerned, well, some one can tell you some "work around " if they find the same problem in the same way in the first place. but as I read through the thread, no one seams to face the problem. secondly, yes no one payed for development. I completely agree with roni. but roni, if I can install the software with a few specific methods that does not come in the scope of development or writing software. kindly read about "what is programming " on wikipedia and then come bac on the thread with that point. since you have been payed for installing softwaers that work exactly as per the client's needs, then you must do so. I rememebr windows also needs tweeks and I have done them many times. so if one thinks that all software gets installed "NORMALLY" on windows, I am ready to stake a contest on that comment. and I second the thoughts of JTD and would like to add one more thing. a free software has always been developed in the public interest and companies have build serious business around it. so more or less almost all softwares in the free software side do have solutions to suit the needs and don't require you to mold your work to suit the m$ or other closed softwares. and if little bit of learning on your part can give stable and professional quality software to the customer, I think it is a "win win " situation for both of you. infact if installing a software is the entire point then again I agree that m$ does not follow right practices. and as far as quality goes, as far as very small business goes, they might not find any difference. but for medium scale to highly professional work, free software is the only way (except accounts IMHO). I remembre those days when a screen reader for gnome desktop did not exist. I used windows then and another closed screen reader called jaws. I don't remember a single time when for more than 15 days my machine worked fine. I am a professional and my needs are not like "pan patti or babiya ". I value my time and want my systems to do work on time and accurately. I totally and sportingly except that gnu/linux has errors but windows errors are miles ahead and out of my experience all over india, I find it is highly risky to use closed softwares. I can't change my work practice just because because a software wants it. as a professional if I am giving softwares installed to my customers, I will take all efords to know if there are some additional commadns I need to give or download some thing to make it work exactly as my client wants. and by all means that is nothing to do with software writing. and yes one last thing. if my workers go away just because I tell them to use a software just having a different name and slightly different interface, firstlyu I am not good an management and secondly even if I am ready to train them and still can't control them, I don't deserve to run an organisation. that point is nothing to do with Free software. regards, Krishnakant.