If I were to lose my main hard drive, I would like to have the opportunity to do the same as I can do using Windows: restore from my USB and have a working system. If I were to rsync everything on the main drive (excluding the backup drive, of course and a few other directories) to my USB drive, could I restore using some CD based version of Linux e.g. Knoppix? Todd -- Ariste Software 2200 D Street Ext Petaluma, CA 94952 (707) 773-4523