I think I have owned this laptop for at least 3 years (how do I find out when it was built?), so yes I have had issues and in the past I have done 3 total recoveries. Seems to be pretty stable now, but I was wondering what sort of things will usually go first in a computer? Would it be the hard drive or the processor? Any warnings, like noises or freezing up, blue screens?

I can't afford another computer right now, but when I can, would like to buy new, and NOT have Vista OS on it. I prefer laptops.