Near Goodsprings, there is a statue of a massive cross. Dig up the graves near it. They have a ton of great loot. You should also loot the Devil's Gullet, right next to the statue. Search the inside of the truck, under the wood planks you used as a ramp. You should also loot Goodsprings Cave. There's a Bright Follower with a Recharger Rifle, which has unlimited ammo. You should loot Victor's Shack for some scrap metal. Also, take everything from the schoolhouse, and the town mailboxes. Sell the junk to Chet. You should buy two sensor modules, some scrap metal (if you didn't get it from Victor's Shack), and some scrap electronics. If he's not selling them, you should be able to find them around town. Once you get to Primm, enter the Nash Residence, and use the scrap metal, electronics, and sensor modules to repair the robot on the table. That's your first companion. If you're having trouble in the hotel, use the Incinerator from the grave near the across statue to kill the convicts. I also have a theory of an easy way to get to Vegas, but I haven't tested it. If you want to try it, go northwest from Goodsprings Cemetery, and follow the road/path. Using the map, follow the road north. There's a tribal camp with some chems, and a group of raiders in an old western style town. You can avoid them, if you want, but they have good loot. Once you pass them, after a few minutes you'll see Vegas. I'd recommend keeping to the hills until Yush reach "Westside" in the Northwest corner of Vegas. Stock up on supplies, then head East, and then slightly south to Freeside. Head through Freeside to the second zone, and at the end of the second zone, you'll see the gate to Vegas. It requires 2,000 caps to get in, which you can have by now if you get all the junk in Goodsprings and sell it to Chet. Alternatively, you can complete a quest for the King in the School of Impersonation, and choose as a reward to be able to get into Vegas. In Vegas, you'll immediately be approached, and you can take up residence in the Lucky 38. This is the only player home in the game. Hope this works!