Public service announcements / pleas for help

(1) Any political / social historians out there would be well advised to read Andrew Marr's Making of Modern Britain and History of Modern Britain. Excellent books (and excellent TV series, too). Yes, parrot_knight and gramarye1971, I'm looking at you two in particular. Loans can be arranged (at least in this country!)

(2) Can any historians / archaeologists / medievalists direct me in the direction of any recent, good writing on Vikings in Greenland and America? I'm not afraid of heavyweight stuff, although more popular/ ist writing would also be welcome. Yes, jason_finch and muuranker, I'm looking at you here. Pints / chocolate will be bought in return.

(3) I am trying to track down two obscure references in particular, and my existing skills have proved inadequate. Does anyone have both access to really good libraries (looks at Oxbridge people) and a bit of time? A bottle of something / good chocolate can be arranged.

(4) Our aging PC takes ages to boot up, especially compared to our newer (but still one year old, and cheap to start with) laptop. What can I do to fix it? (One thing I can do is take up alitalf's offer of advice). Similar rewards will be offered.

(5) I have some old UK coins, and a scattering of old world coins, to dispose of. If anyone would like them, you can have them for the cost of p&p. Email / message me for details if you're interested.

Tolkien references

"Tolkien was the worst lecturer I’ve ever heard. Took no trouble at all about anything, it was amazing how indolent he seemed to me to be."
http://www.literateur.com/2010/01/an-interview-with-sir-christopher-ricks-part-ii/

"Tolkien was a professor at Birmingham university, not far from the Lickey hills.....
It is said he walked these hills and I am sure he would have been inspired by the magic that is always there..........."
(Stunning photo)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8211100@N06/4279678386/

"But in another example, we learn that Beowulf was read by Tolkien, who was a close friend and University of Oxford colleague of CS Lewis, who in turn was an influence upon Sarah Palin."
http://howtoteachanovel.wordpress.com/2010/01/16/the-wind-beneath-their-wings/