What about making a large percentage of the files write protected? This should prevent deletion most of the time and may bring up a warning message when a deletion is attempted - however it is initiated. Richard P > Are you sure that it's not just "finger trouble" with your nephew > experimenting with the delete function? That's in the back of my mind, because this is too strange. IF it's sabotage or some sibling squabble I doubt if it's my nephew himself as he's pretty peed off that stuff has gone, maybe someone else is doing it. But trust me, I don't believe there's anyone in my brother's family capable of such a thorough delete job. I can find absolutely no trace of the missing s/w on the computer. Reformat it is............bugger, another day lost -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body