If your computer doesn't like the Qt client, how about trying out Electrum or Multibit (both lightweight, fast-starting clients)? You'll be up and running in minutes, literally. and you can always come back to the Qt client when it's more reliable on regular PCs.
See this chart for a quick comparison of the various bitcoin clients:
http://dre.redmartian.org/compare.htmSeriously, I feel bad for you (and all unsuspecting new users) wasting so
much of your valuable time just getting the Qt client started.