alrighty then ! now i have the answers, tonight i can start to play around in the dangerous areas...with fear and trepidation but knowing that my supporters will help if i misstep. thank you all for your replies, sorry i know so little. i put the linux computer together with parts i gathered from machines people trashed, or gave away and it is the only OS on there so i can use it to learn. once i feel comfortable with linux i can put it on my main machine. :) waiting for that day. betty i obsevare porta non oportet fila domestica (no need to watch the door, with a fila in the house) visit http://wolfila.homestead.com