thanks rosie, and thank patrick for me. I have it all figured out though, I'm getting my CD burner fixed so I can put my mp.3 files on it when I'm home, and then before I start grad school i've been planning on getting a new computer anyway instead of a car. Since I'll end up in a large city I really won't need a car. And, I've decided to get a mac laptop (not an iBook but the other one). I have owned a pc for 4 years and i am really dissatisfied with the customer support and tech services. the HP people have been no help whatsoever and the people I have been calling for help lack customer service skills. When I was on the phone with the Apple guy about my iPod, I was very impressed with how willing he was to help me, and he didn't charge me for a tech support phone call which usually costs about $50.