Bryster, re Video card: I remember you needing something like that last year but I thought it was your monitor. (Oh well live and learn.) glad you finally got it fixed BTW what speed is your computer? some guy in a shop told me my 1.6 was too slow to use a 128mb card. I'm not sure he was right about that. re HD: You might look into imaging software. Also read up on exporting your registry and on moving your files (in MS help). one or the other or the other might make it easier. BTW I found a couple of things on the internet that could help in a general purpose sort of way: one is called restore (any files you want back AFTER you empty them from your Recycle bin). The other is called EBCD an ISO based administrator tool that allows you to manipulate your accounts in a system recovery sort of way... sort of hard to use and even understand; if you want them let me know I'll post a link. . . . Also for anyone with a home network: a server application that allows you to see and manipulate a remote computer's desktop in real time (mouse like.) BTW for future ref Seagate,Western Digital and Maxtor are the three lesding HD makers according to an article I read on Serial ATI hard drives not too long ago. well whichever way you go, good luck and get well soon!!! - TJ