If you can get Windows98 to start in the "safe" mode (pressing the F8 key as mentioned above), open the "recycle bin and look to see if the deleted files are there. They should be if these have not been removed from the recycle bin. If the files are there, merely highlight the file and click on "restore". This will put the file back from whence it came unless you have deleted certain part of the operating system. However, if you deleted files using the old DOS commands, I'm not sure what happens. They may be gone. In any event, you could re-install Windows. I've had to to do that a few times back when I had Win98 SE. Before reinstalling, copy down all of your browser settings. You may loose these on an re-install. It doesn't happen every time, but it is a good practice just in case. I'm not sure what happens to the Windows updates upon a re-install. If you are lucky, Windows will recognize the update copies on the drive and install these. If this does not happen, the next time you go in-line, the Windows updater may begin, or ask to begin downloading a bunch of updates, and this can be a lengthy process over a 'dail-up' connection. Of course, you are aware that MicroSoft stopped supporting Window98 and there will be no new updates save the ones already available. If your equipment is suitable for Windows XP, I recommend moving up to that operating system. It's much better that Win98. One caution, however: Make sure that you have plenty of disk space be you begin the upgrade. A big mess is created if XP fails to finish loading due to not enough disk space. Read the requirements carefully. Upgrading to XP requires a huge temporary file during the upgrade, much larger than one might imagine. Also, a large amount of space is neded to store the old system if the option to retain 'retore old system' is chosen. If your disks are formatted for FAT 16 bit, convert up to at least 32 bit FAT. BUT WAIT! If you need to run old DOS programs, find out how to set this up under XP before you convert. That may be more trouble than its worth. It would be best if you could move away from these if possible. I've had no problem with older software written for Win95/98 when run under XP. I do have an expensive old DOS based finite element analysis program that I can no longer run with XP. If I find that I really need to run this program (for consulting purposes), I'll refresh an old computer and install Win98 SE and this program on it.

If you have a third party email unitlty (Thunderbird, etc.), most of these have a "trash box". When you delete an email from either the "In Box" or "Sent Box" it goes to the trash box. To complete a deletion, go to the trash box and delete. Items deleted from the trash box are gone. This is a neat feature. For example, if you deleted a message while reading it in the "In Box" and then later wanted to retrieve it. you can. Merely move to the trash box, select the message and "Move" it to another box.

Hmm, I just found out the way to find out where the files that Secunia is updating are located. If you right click on the program in Secunia, and then click on 'show details', it shows the location and you can double click on it. The Symantec location led me to a folder called Shared Symantec (which I did not see directly under Program Files, but it was under Common Files under Program Files). I deleted the whole folder. Hopefully it doesn't contain any files that I need seeing as it was 'shared'. I'll leave it in my recycling bin for awhile. Also I double-clicked the AVG location in Secunia, and deleted ALOT of AVG files. I guess I should have played around more, but sort of gave up when I didn't see anything under Program Files. Thanks for your help.

Thank you all so much. I knew I could count on THS people. I followed everyone's advice, and as long as I can see the date and time associated with the file I will be able to tell which folder/e-mail has the latest copy. One of the six pdf's DID come back as undeliverable, but I re-sent it with stern thoughts about not shirking its duty again. (It was originally sent from another account - by mistake. It was re-sent from g-mail, and it has not come back.) It must have been above the allowable attachment size for that particular e-mail. I was using the same e-mail address, and it is not an overly large file ... my c.v. is not humongous. Yes, I am really paranoid, azinoh. Again, thank you all, Janey - formerly jane2