To start with, you can't just switch drives from one computer to another and expect it to boot to windows, unless the computers are the exact same make and model. You can put your C drive into the new computer and if you have a windows xp disc, do a repair install. If it asks for a product key, look on the case of the new computer for the sticker. If the new computer came with a HD and works, I'd just start transferring important data to it either with dvd or flash drives and eventually get it setup the way you like. The people that do a clean install are erasing the whole drive. Yes, a re-install will erase your entire C: drive, a repair install would leave your documents intact. You're going to need a windows xp disc to get started, also software needs to be installed to work, not just a simple transfer folders thing. You may be able to put your old C drive in the new computer, boot from the xp disc, go to the recovery console and fixboot or fixmbr and she may boot up. Don't know what windows genuine advantage or activation will do noticing your C drive has a different motherboard, video and ram.

not sure how much more descriptive I can be. the smyptoms are stated quite clearly above. the add/remove window opens up, the slider at the right is very small indicating a very long list, but beyond the first 4 or 5 programs in the list it's blank. you can move the slider, or click on the down arrow and the slider moves like there are programs in the list, but NOTHING is visible. very odd. I will follow the links provided above and see what I can see. next tuesday, I will be infront of the computer again, and I will post some screen shots. thanks, John

Luis it would appear that your hard drive is formatted in Fat32. As your error message notes, it can only create a backup up to 4 gigs making it useless for you. To check your computer click Start, click My computer the RIGHT click on the C:\ drive and click Properties at the bottom of the new window. Now look near the top and you will see whether your drive is Fat32 or the more Efficient NTFS. If your internal hard drive is either Maxtor or Seagate you can download free back up software from their site. This is a modified version of Acronis True Image and is a large file.

I updated it to version 8.5 - same problem. I cured it before by replacing a corrupted dll file and got the replacement from this site: http://www.dll-files.com/ but don't know which file it is. Maybe replace em all? :-) The shading & color function for the charts controls the color of the data series not the chart background. And the problem is intermittent so anyway I agree my simple problem is beyond works 8.0 now 8.5. Open Office would be like using the Queen Mary when a rowboat would do. Works 8 is fearsome enough for my elimentary needs. But I'll probly bite this bullet and get it. By now I coulda done the whole thing by hand 8 times over. Maybe I'll jsut do the graphs by hand anyway. There's the advantage that you can pencil in notes etc.