Compress Old Files doesn't delete any files from the drive. It compresses files that Windows hasn't accessed for a specified period of time. I have 2,597,426. You can check everything in disk cleanup, won't hurt anything. You've got more serious problems with the "No IDE fixed drive present" It means the computer is not seeing a hard drive. If you can ever get it to boot again, open My Computer, right click Local Disk (C:) / Properties, click the Tools Tab, under error checking/check now, put a check in both boxes and start. Hopefully that might fix something. To me it sounds like the hard drive has died or the ide ribbon has come loose from the hd.

Colin - your explanations of restore, system restore, back up, etc were very helpful. They were a very useful edition to what Ravencajun wrote - it didn't seem repetitive to me. I think I can really use any reiteration at this point. Now I actually understand that the system can be backed up to a hidden spot on the hard drive as well as my backing it up on dvd - to be used in the event that the hard drive back up doesn't work. By George, I think I've got it...........Well - at least that part. I'm not sure that I saw any option to create a back up start-up disk. Was that automatically included when I backed up the entire hard drive - or is there a separate step I should take? I also realize that I hadn't understood what you meant by blue button. I was looking at an actual blue button the thinkpad keyboard. Will that button do - or should I be looking for something else. I didn't not notice any blue buttons on the screen (except the Avast buttons in the task bar). Raven - I have a question about revo uninstaller. What would it uninstall? I noticed that I have Office on my computer but I don't know if it came with Office - or if this is a trial program. Is there a way I can figure that out? If it's a trial, I'd like to remove it. If it's permanent, I'll keep it. I know I did not get Microsoft Word with this and thought I had chosen no office software. I was planning on getting open office for the few times I might need to work on a word document (working on a document that is in Word on my desktop). Zep - good point about the printer software. I know when I chose the Canon mx850 and was researching printers, these were considered much better in terms of minimal bloatware (than say the HP's). I know when I installed the software on my desktop (and my daughter's) that several files were installed, but I think I want them all. The computer is networked so I can scan documents to any of our computers - print from any computer, fax from any computer, etc. I'm not sure how I would determine if any of those canon files are bloatware. More on my progress: -I did do all the lenovo updates. -ran javara and updated java and removed old programs. -installed and ran malwarebytes, spywareblaster. Any particular settings I should choose for spywareblaster,malwarebytes or Avast? I have so far just chosen the defaults - but don't know if I should "protect?" cookies - or anything else. And I just realized that I forgot to install superantispyware. For Avast, I did not set up scans on the screensaver - because at this point I will be turning the computer off if it is not being used for a while. If I just happen to walk away for 20 minutes or so, I don't want a scan automatically running that I have to wait to finish - or interrupt and cancel it - and run it manually later. Does it seem okay to just run it manually? If so, how often? Maybe I should use the screensaver option? I think "protecting (I know that's the wrong word - unselecting ?) cookies was for ccleaner - not anti-spyware programs. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong. So now I'm off to get superantispyware - run secunia and get any necessary updates - and set up the printer software. This is extremely gratifying to be able to do this (with everyone's help). It really helps me to understand what's going on with my computer. Thanks. Lynn. PS - if I get open office, is there anyplace in particular I should download it from? Are there parts to download and parts to avoid - or do I just download the whole program?

Dee, A tangent question usually should be posted on its own so members can see it and it doesn't get lost over time. However, your concern is a continuation of the original question so please don't worry. It is very kind of you to be concerned though. It has been my experience when cleaning up a system after the owner has removed Norton without the removal tool that deleting the remaining orphan files manually has not been a problem. A basic START>Search locates the files where they can be right-clicked on and removed. As I reported on another thread, this is also one of the few times I recommend the use of CCleaner's Registry Tool. The user should run the tool and review the report. All entries referring to Norton or Symantec can be removed. No guessing though. If you are not sure leave the entry alone. And of course when offered a backup option the user should approve the request. DA

I got seagate for the length of their warranty plus they are good drives. I got and like the seagate free agent PRO there is one that is not a pro version also. When I was looking I originally was going for a Western Digital but reading reviews online found many having heat issues and a friend bought one at the same time I got my seagate and had to send her WD back the next week for that reason so I was glad I chose seagate. Lacie also makes very good drives they are usually more expensive though. You should be seeing some great prices on externals real soon. Buy.com has had some great prices. Of course you should be aware of what type of format they come in, for me the fact the seagate came as NTFS was a plus.