Re: [Fsuk-manchester] the non-free neighbour asking for help dilemma

[Tim Dobson]

2008/5/13 MJ Ray <address@hidden>:
> Tim Dobson <address@hidden> wrote:
> > My brother's Windows XP computer has stopped booting. Apparently it
> > won't boot from CD because of GRUB from previous (now removed) debian
> > install.
> > This is obviously highly unlikely. It's probably the BIOS. [...]
> > what would you do?
>
> I'd make really sure that GRUB isn't the problem and/or help remove
> the last remnants of GRUB if necessary, with the brother watching and
> explaining any steps taken while attempting to fix it so that it's
> convincing that GRUB isn't the problem, then hand the machine back.
>
> I believe that helping someone to self-harm usually isn't helping them
> (but it seems that few people agree exactly what is usual about that)
> and installing Windows isn't much better.  If he chooses to pay
> someone else to help him install Windows, that's another freedom of
> choice.  Don't surrender your own freedom not to install Windows...

You might want to read the followup I posted to this with the "a new
user to GNU/Linux WAS: the non-free neighbour asking for help dilemma"
subject line.

-- 
www.tdobson.net
----
If each of us have one object, and we exchange them, then each of us
still has one object.
If each of us have one idea, and we exchange them, then each of us now
has two ideas. - George Bernard Shaw