A Bit Cranky With Computers

I've been beating (not literally) on this bloody computer. A lot of my problems could be classified as user error-lack of updated backups, not paying attention to what I'm doing, etc. Now I think of myself as intermediate in computers-I can do various things well but I'm not an expert by any means.
I think its my configuration-bought this PC from a system builder who used some seriously cheap parts with a lot built in-video, Ethernet, sound, modem. I have had issues with Ethernet-bought a new card when we had a series of errors caused by the combo of a SiS 900 ethernet card and a cable modem that didn't have a power off button with two days of intermittent power outages caused by a lovely thunderstorm. Next went the video-it was sharing 256MB and boy did it kill performance. So we bought a 64MB PCI NVIDIA MX-4000 video card. I found out that I can't uninstall the previous video card so I can only disable it. So any time I have to reinstall Windows which I had to do last weekend (Sept. 10-11), I have to be sure and check the Device manager and update drivers for the NVidia and disable the SiS software. The modem is always a bit of a problem. I always forget what kind it is, but I used my dad's PC and went online and found the drivers which are now on CD. I also found an IBM CRT monitor driver that works fine and made sure to get my sound drivers.
I've just now got around to getting music and video files put back into my files so I'm pretty much set. I've lost two video files and about 4-5 iTunes songs, which is a bit irritating but I can fix them.
I would be really happy if Comcast got off their hind end and upgraded the cable system in Vonore because they and DirecWay are the only ones who can do broadband in my area. I'm too far from the cetral office for DSL. DirecWay is too bloody expensive for the speed they offer-400Kbs versus the now 6meg Comcast has. I'm going to call them in a bit and ask when they would be upgrading the service, as I'm tired of the slow dialup and the feeling that I'm now a second class citizen on the net as I have dialup and want to play games online (NeverWinterNights), find AMV's and update my music collection by buying on iTunes or other places. Not to mention it takes forever to dl my Gmail POP mail, newsgroups and RSS feeds, and even general browsing.