Ubuntu Installation :: 3rd World Situation (no Internet / Cd Rom)

I need to install ubuntu or edubuntu (preferably) on an older computer (256 ram) whose cd rom is shot, but the USB ports work! The family has 2 kids and the parents are very computer illiterate and know NO English. The kids' future is dependent on learning English. The grandfather is illiterate in his language! They are not down and out people, but they could use some help, if you know what I mean! I do have an external DVDRW drive and 2 computers where Ubuntu Maverick and Lucid have been installed. I will be about 300 km from them to give support. I have 2 days Monday to Wednesday next week to install Ubuntu or edubuntu.

I read on the internet 3 solutions, one of them offering a USB fix, which I am not 100% clear on: [URL] I do not know how to program and am far more comfortable around a GUI, even though I sometimes venture off using the terminal (albeit, copying and pasting codes that other provides and that often I only get half the meaning of). The USB stick option seems to be one of the best solution at this time because I have tested it in the past! The computer has suddenly crashed (I had installed Windows in a multiple user/password mode), but one of the kids (older) was using games from friends' usbs (maybe full of virii)! Maybe the crash is a hardware crash as surges are common in the area. (I will be able to check for that using some kind of software if I can boot the comp.) After installing Ubuntu succesfully on two more recent computers already, I think Ubuntu or edubuntu might be the best solution for this situation. I am also 300 KM from being able to help out these people!

I have a few questions at this time. If the option of basically using one computer's image (ubuntu Maverick) that I have installed with all the packages that come with it (solution 1) is a viable one, how am I going to deal with the difference in hardware between the two computers. DOn't they need "drivers" and packages related to these specific components? Could I use the external dvd drive? If so, how can I get the old computer to recognize it. Assuming I can make it work again, would I need to download (beforehand) the windows drivers/files needed? Install them which might help if I want to use it to install the ISO image. I am not thinking about a dual boot since space is an issue and windows is a bad option anyway (virii).