Comment Think Sideways. (Score 1) 695
Switch to Ubuntu. Create a guest account and let them use that.
If you or the people you lend to really need Windows...
Install QEMU, on Ubuntu, it is a nice virtual machine. Take your old Windows CD and install as a FILE in your QEMU Virtual machine.
Keep a couple copies of the Virtual Windows FILE on your hard drive.
When someone wants to borrow your laptop, start up your Virtual Windows Machine in QEMU and lets them play. If the screw up that Windows copy (or if you just don't trust them), delete the FILE and use a new copy of the FILE on your Virtual Machine.
If you or the people you lend to really need Windows...
Install QEMU, on Ubuntu, it is a nice virtual machine. Take your old Windows CD and install as a FILE in your QEMU Virtual machine.
Keep a couple copies of the Virtual Windows FILE on your hard drive.
When someone wants to borrow your laptop, start up your Virtual Windows Machine in QEMU and lets them play. If the screw up that Windows copy (or if you just don't trust them), delete the FILE and use a new copy of the FILE on your Virtual Machine.