Thanks everyone. Lots of useful methods. Mikie - it's good to know about moving entire folders (I don't have my video's in folders - yet - but am just discovering how useful that would be for shows I've recorded for a few seasons - having them altogether). I'd like to double check and ask what "a cmd window" is - and how I'd get there. Again - I have Windows XP (SP3). Sorry to say, Mikie, but I also need more explanation for what "make a shortcut to the destination , within the folder the files are in... then select a bunch of what I want to move, cut&paste onto the shortcut" means. I know someday I'll understand all of this, but I don't know how to make a shortcut to the destination. And once I cut and paste onto the shortcut, what do I do with it? Absolutely there are some big files - so I'm glad to told me to break it up into smaller chunks. I have so far. Thank you. Lynn.

If you are going the single unit & zoned route because you assume 1 unit + zoning is cheaper than 2 independant units you may want to think again. The zoning equipment is quite often as expensive as a 2nd independant unit. Personally, I prefer 2 independant units for a 2-story house because if one goes out you still have the other. Flip-side is lower maintenance costs with 1 unit & by having 2 units you statistically increase the probability of one of the units going out by 100%. How big is the house & what area of the country are you in? And as mentioned make sure load calcs (Manual J) & duct design (Manual D) were done. Once you get the other 2 bids in, that will tell you if the $16K is in the ballpark are not. Are the other 2 quoting the same equipement/setup?

I just now came back to see some responses here. Hey, Coolmen CJ, congratulations on being NCI Certified. No it is not spam; I nor no one else makes a penny from the information I provide on my Web sites. However, if you are a good Tech, you will get a lot more work, because when folks get interested in how their HVAC system is performing & in knowing how to reduce energy use, they will call a contractor for Tech help. I think he is getting a little too hi tech. for the home owner to do all this checking. How many home owners are going to buy air testing meter? (They don't need it.) A lot of dealers don't have them. Later paulbm I don't actually disagree with you Paul. The Tech needs all the air testing instruments; the folks running my simple test only need a thermometer & either a humidity gage or do a wet bull temp check. They can respond on twitter or on a forum, or e-mail me, & I'll go much further with that seemingly insignificant information. Just using that little info data; I can tell them an amazing amount of performance & trouble shooting information, concerning their system's performance. If they provide supply air & rerurn air wet bulb, I can closely ballpark with psychrometric software the BTUH that their system is delivering within those operating conditions. Every Tech could do that, especially if they had worked in HVAC/R since before the mid-1970's. The mfg'ers ought to provide the condenser splits so I wouldn't have to do extra figuring to get the condenser temp split at differing load conditions. Challenge me with actual test data & I'll show what we can come up with I need to know the "SEER Rating of the condenser." Typing with eraser ends of pencils, cause my hands are messed-up is difficult so I'll quit, for now. - udarrell Here is a link that might be useful: Simple A/C Performance Checks Anyone Can Do

Thank you for the information. So with the XL15i I'd get the benefit down the road with a furnace replacement (from the variable speed blower), but perhaps not so much currently. I don't know the price difference, but I'd actually probably lean toward the XL15i if it makes more sense in the long-term. On that note, when I entered the numbers into the ARI website, it appeared the only furnace combination it gave me was for *DH2C100A9V4 3018439 Active Systems XL15I TRANE 4TTX5048A1 4TXCC049BC3 46000 11.20 13.50 1 RCU-A-C 293 3061271 Active Systems XL15I TRANE 4TTX5048A1 4TXCC049BC3 *DH2C100A9V4 45500 11.20 13.75 1 RCU-A-CB 284 Did I do that right/Is that the case? If so, it appears to raise the SEER slightly, but not much. Or am I not looking in the right place? Also, I see on Trane's website that that model of the XV95 is downflow vs. upflow. Our current basement installation is an upflow as far as I know. I saw something on a forum post about the XL15i NOT having a supported configuration without a variable speed blower. Anyone know if that's the case? I was also wondering how people felt about the lineset flush. As I read more about it, it seemed there were mixed thoughts on flushing vs. replacing when there's a coolant switch. Our basement is finished with utility room a good distance from exterior unit. I believe the sizing is remaining the same from current equipment to what's been recommended.