"Can't connect to this network." "Media disconnected" no networking hardware detected

HotCakeX:  Weelllll... technically I own it, but Windows seems to think that IT owns it, in that it simply barges in and updates whenever it feels like it (as I mentioned, I go to use it and am looking at a Linux login... so it updated, without my permission to do so... and all game progress is lost, open documents that were in progress, any changes are lost, etc.  Annoying.)

In no way did it LET me install another OS... I had to use a backhoe and jackhammer to set this thing up as a dual-boot... Dell refused to help me with it in any way, wouldn't even discuss existing BIOS settings/options (which is why this is the last Dell I'll ever buy....)  Had to dig out the way to do it entirely on my own.  Windows doesn't 'allow' anything; it's entirely ignorant of another OS going in (and you have to make sure Windows goes in first; if you install Linux first, Windows doesn't bother to check for an existing OS... it just barges in and sets up housekeeping, trashing whatever might have already been there.  Linux plays much more nicely with others, and installs itself alongside the existing OS.  Much more well-mannered and considerate than Windows ever was.

Can't speak to Apple... they're so ludicrously expensive that I never even looked at them.  Plus, I was aware that the OS is pretty much a "black box" as far as the user goes... can't open the hood and mess around, just passively use what's offered.