(post and mail)  

Hi, Allan -- thanks for your reports and your fine work at Reavis.  I'll just comment on random items that rang a bell for me.

Remediation scripts -- we have experienced split opinions on these.  Some people get good results.  For myself, I agree with your perspective and almost never use the single large (or "monolithic") scripts from the top of that Windows Maintenance Utilities page.

Office 2007 -- Right, i've also encountered that "third party items didn't install" error, and worried that it meant something fatal for the overall installation.  But, as you say, it didn't seem to be a problem overall and the Office installation should be counted as working.

Wi-fi manufacturer's utility -- Yeah, generally it works better to use the built-in Windows manager for this. 

Spending hours on one not-all-that-signficant computer -- Oh, it happens to everybody.  Don't feel bad over it.  

Thanks again,

  ==Mitch