Back up your texture sub folder too.
It's a while since I wrote those guides and since then I've been trying to revisit my shell and new textures are not playing.
The grassy knoll is still valid becuse it adds no new textures.
I'm working with Robert to try and figure out why if I do find out something's changed I'll update the wiki and if I find out it's just me doing something stupid I'll post a heads up because If it's a mistake I can make it's one you can make too.
If your totally new to Blender look up the Gingerbread man (Gus)
http://www.blender.org/documentation/htmlI/c1205.html I know it's not making a Shell or an age but it will help you crack the first bit of the learning curve.
If you think there's something missing from those early shell tutorials let me know I know some things have changed either post here, PM me or edit the Wiki yourself (scared the hell out of me the first time)
If there was one thing to mention to a newbie facing Bender its check weather you are supposed to be in Object or Edit Mode i've spent ages looking for a button that does not appear till you change mode and select something. "Shift D" is a classic example.