Cheap dirt!!…
Very apt adjective for windows!!

i’ve been into ubuntu bro… fiesty fawn 7.04 though
cause i have a hag sitting in front of me.. no issues no breakdowns whatsoever for the past one week!!

now that the sound issue is resolved, i’ll dump that windows crap out of the window!!

u installed compiz fusion or what??… try creating a ‘new panel’ and tweak it like this:

create a new panel,
orientation: bottom,
size: 80 pixels,
uncheck expand,
drag that to a place just below top left corner…
check show hide buttons and arrows on hide buttons

and add your most used applications like synaptic, firefox, volume and whatever..
and
viola!!
u’ll love ubuntu more than you did yesterday!!
cheers!!