I think I've been running 8.1 Ubuntu. It doesn't want to
install over itself. So last time I had to install Mepis Linux over it and then
install it over Mepis. A real pain in the... Anyway, does 10.? install over
itself so I can reinstall after it gets corrupted and knocks me off the wireless
again?

Is there any utility that can take over deep down and track all users so I can
tell if I've been hijacked and someone is running an invisible server
underneath? Don't know what the preferred terms are. Making them up to try and
express what I think keeps happening to me. I think some malware is installing
itself at a low level then taking over my wireless and dumping huge data that
then gets me kicked off the wireless network and my PC ID blacklisted so I can't
get back on it.

the VM sounds like a solution but I don't know what a VM is Virtual
something I suspect. Need a little more handholding to understand and implement
next time. I'm pretty green in Linux though been using it awhile now. I have
graduated from a Super User of MS crap to a novice normal user of Linux and MS
crap over the years.

thanks for the info on the sudo vs. root. What else do you guys suggest
I do?

If I can use 8.1 so I don't have to borrow another computer to download another
CD that would be good. I really don't want to have to flash my bios if I can
help it.