Many thanks, everybody, for your advice! That does help a lot. Yes, my photo files do seem to be saved, as they are still there when I turn the drive off and back on. Actually, once I turn the drive off the little "safely remove hardware" icon disappears from my computer screen. So I suspect it's only available when the computer can detect extra hardware plugged in. So is it okay to remove the drive from the computer, as long as the drive is turned off, without going through that "safely remove" thing first? To answer some of your questions, no, there was no pamphlet included with the drive so I didn't get the key code. It is a 500 GB drive and I think it was about 99 dollars that I paid for it. Though, as there was actually only 465 GB free on it, I knew there must be something else on there somewhere--even if it wasn't showing up! I had looked at the Seagate web site before, and I think I saw something on there which said they would send you the software if you gave them the serial number of the drive and a little other information. Though, at the time, I thought they met the installation software and I didn't think I needed that, as it had installed okay. So maybe I'll look into that--or demand a pamphlet from the seller!

More memory is good but at some point there is a diminishing return on the investment and that point is a function of what you are doing with your computer. Things like first person shooter games, video editing, photo editing (of very large files) all benefit from lots of memory. Writing an email to Aunt Betty doesn't require very much memory at all because the computer can process information far faster than you can type. Same thing for the Internet, your computer can render pages faster than your connection can supply the information. So if you have a slow internet connection, you're not likely to experience much, if any improvement. With that said, 4 gigs is probably a pretty good number. If you really want a WOW factor, get a solid state drive and use that for your O/S and critical applications. To try and answer some of your questions: - Windows doesn't care about the physical drive or any logical partitions. It does make good sense to install Windows 7 on the newer, faster drive. You'll get the best performance that way. When it comes time to get rid of XP, everything will be on one drive and that, if nothing else, should help you keep things mentally organized. - My understanding is that you have two physical drives, one with a functioning version of XP and the other blank. If that is not correct, say so NOW. - When you go to install Windows 7, it will recognize that there is another operating system (Windows XP) already installed. Windows 7 won't do anything to XP other than to set up the dual boot. Essentially it's computer language that says, "XP is there, Windows 7 is here, which one do you want to use?" - Logical partitions to a drive a largely a function of personal preference. Understand that it is more difficult (but not impossible) to non-destructively repartition a drive after you put data on it. If you, for example, have a partition for music, another for videos, and a third for pictures and find down the road that you have a lot more videos than music, it becomes more difficult to rearrange things. My suggestion is a single, large partition and use folders to organize your data.

Just remember everyone, you are not alone! Running, I am glad to have made someone laugh today, but I tell you those dishtowels are a real source of angst. I have kept them though to tell myself "Get over it, it is just a dish towel!" Allison, I could see where the patriotic paraphanalia would get old in a hurry. But what a fun day to have a birthday. Not many get fireworks displays and the like on their day. I do have to say though that my handbag is not organized at all. I generally carry a rather large bag and like my mother it is where receipts go to die. If you opened my handbag on any given day, it would look like I am about to ship something fragile just from the receipts that could be used as packaging material. Cash...what's cash? I can't keep cash it just disappears; however, when I do have it I do find myself turning it around,dewrinkling, and lining it up in the correct order.

Sammers I too am very sorry!! But not all hope is lost! Is it too early to leave them outside now Sammers? When I was once in the dark about getting rid of scale, I am talking a HUGE mass of them all over my Ponderosa Lemon and Olive Tree, I used what Tom suggested and what Gardengal suggested all at once..Let me tell you when I say I got completely rid of them in just a month spraying once a week. I brought mine outside and spray and watered them in. I have never seen them since. Try both! When you get them outside, spray every tree down with the 'All Seasons Dormant oil and then water them all in with the Bayer. That did the trick for mine for sure! I never threw a tree away to pest, because for every pest there is a simple solution if given the right advice and using the right products.. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-BONIDE-32-OZ-RTU-HOSE-END-ALL-SEASONS-SPRAY-HORTICULTURAL-DORMANT-OIL-213/172149772721?epid=1000020153&hash=item2814ed11b1:g:osMAAOSwI3RW-VqX