I've not installed it on Linux yet, just put it on Windows 7 for now and I just found out what caused the problems as well, it was lack of space.  I couldn't even load the complete guide, but after freeing-up a bit of space, I can see it all now - my system is totally choked.  I'll have to get on with that reformat, been putting it off for over a year now, does my head in.

Regards Z-Remesher, I haven't tried it yet but I get the impression that it only works with the new method if you use the new features along with it.  For example, they made a new way to do edgeloops and stuff with the modeler, and I think the new Z_Remesher reacts to those new ways of doing it (just guessing though).