Susan, Owbist is great, knowledgeable, and always helpful, so please don't take my response as disputing his obliging and useful advice to you. I have no doubt there is a memory issue that correcting will prove beneficial. What you describe sounds like an overloaded cache directory. This may also be referred to by some programs as the program's scratchpad (or whatever Photoshop Elements calls it). Any program that works with graphics (most programs, actually, whether they work with graphics or not, especially Word), utilizes this area for temporary storage used by your computer's memory. Everything you do in PE creates these temp files, which are an integral part of forming/creating/modifying while in the program. Just opening a graphic in PE prompts the program to automatically generate these cache/scratch/temp files to help it remember the graphic and everything you do to it (such as lightening, sharpening, applying effects, etc.). In other words, PE is creating and storing copies of the information it needs and makes easily retrievable while you task. It is one reason undo is possible, for example, but has many other uses. The program automatically created this area/directory on your hard drive during installation, and some programs build them more heavily and more rapidly than others. That would depend on the size of these files and how many it builds for each individual graphic. Some build only one, but some build quite a few. I have no idea how many PE creates or how big they are. Additionally, there are other temp files the program may be creating. Even though it's finished with those files and has discarded them to the cache/scratchpad directory or to your Temp directory in Windows, it still accesses them. Or, in the very least, they are sitting there in the way, interferring with the program's functionability (is that a word? LOL). This explains your sudden decrease in efficiency. Therefore, adding memory will certainly help but only for the length of time it takes the cached/scratched files to build beyond RAM's ability to manage - which is what actually just happened. Now, your task is finding its location so you can clean it out and be able to clean it periodically. I'm sorry I cannot help with that because I don't have PE. I do have Photoshop but couldn't find its scratch folder doing a quick look. Once you delete all the *junk* in there, PE will resume normal function at a maximum rate of tasking speed that your amount of memory will accommodate. As Owbist indicated, the more the merrier. :) Start another thread for someone with PE to help you find that folder. Incidentally, clean out your Temp directory. C > Windows > Temp Bet you find a bunch of stuff with a .tmp extension. You will likely find files with other extensions, but I wouldn't touch those. Good luck

yes I did the custom install, and now have FF7.01. Some of the toolbar settings have carried through, most have not...only 3 add ons came through. Do you know of any way to find the list of add ons that I had so I can just hopefully enable them? I sure hate the thought of going through all that again. Things like this are what makes me say I live in the land of "IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT." But that would be too easy wouldn't it. thanks for your guidance...

Mini split are probably not going to work well with a 3400 sq. foot house. I also think it would be cheaper to heat your house with natural gas. Did this contractor give you an breakdown of what you would get in his $50K proposal? It seems like a lot of money even if you have brand new duct work throughout the house.

The Carrier Infinity or Bryant Evolution zoning is the best zoning system out there since it is the only modulating zone system for residential applications at this time. Bypass dampers are against the rules with this zone system. Make sure your air flow is set to comfort not efficiency. comfort is default the tech should have set this in installation. -comfort has a slightly less air flow than the efficiency setting. Next open back your vents in your master bath and master closet. You are not saving any money by dampening the vents. You may actually be hurting the system, if you have extra air think of it as a little dump area that gets cooled for free. Next program your main area as a unoccupied area at night. This will help in becoming a dump zone for any excessive air that may be forced to your master bedroom creating noise issue. Next, 4x10 are these floor vents? floor vents are known to be on the noisy side since they have thin slots. Increasing your duct to these vents will not help with noise issues. take the vent off and you may see a big difference in noise issues. If opening up the 2 vents you closed and then creating the main zone as unoccupied in your night time schedule doesn't quiet down the system enough then you may have to add more vents or increase the vents and duct you have. sorry but that the real stuff. On the bright side you do have a primo zone system!