Pity you have to go that way acropolite...
I know someone who works in a wholesale business bringing in windows products along with other things and they tried to order vista to restock and microsoft informed them, it is no longer available..to be replace by something else, now the big question is, is it xp with some improvements or are they going to stop new sales till 7 arrives...
I have no idea but was shocked to hear that they couldnt get copies anymore, I was told they only have about 3 months stock left...
maybe you might find that you have to learn another os real soon...
Well anyway, i am no help, I am a linux user only nowadays...