Computer Issues

I cannot believe how much time I devote to my laptop and its Windows XP related problems! Six days ago the computer just crashed and since I didn't want to lose any data (Yes, I should back-up more often), I decided to execute (I picked this word intentionally) the Repair option. Well, that was a BAD move... You can say that what was executed at the end was my whole configuration.
So, for the last 6 days I 've been talking for hours to Microsoft technicians (somewhere in India I suppose, something to thank globalization for..) trying to solve issues with my Internet connection, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, (need I go on?) In fact, yesterday, (following the completely ungrounded suggestion there was a problem with my ISP) I had been talking with a Bell technician from 1.50-3.40 am only to find out that there is no ISP problem in the first place.
Yes, I know: FORMAT, FORMAT, FORMAT, this IS the solution, but I really do not want to go over all this procedure again. I guess this is inevitable though.
Anyway, I guess I will do that during the weekend, but just as a final thought...

Don't you ever (ever? be honest!!) miss the time it was just pen and paper?