Hi Tod, I guess we should take this OT, but for the list readers I believe this has been the case since Windows 2000 (that is, the documents and settings folder contents will be wiped which is where users' 'my documents' and other personal folders are stored) when performing a reinstall of the OS. An upgrade will always keep data and the registry intact but a reinstall over an existing install, will wipe this folder. Either go to a dos prompt and move the data from that folder (if you are on NTFS, then use the manual autorecovery option on the 2K / XP CD which will give you a DOS prompt), otherwise install XP / 2K on a different drive letter than the one which has the data / information in documents & settings, that you want to keep. Regards, Jase. -----Original Message----- From: Tod Moses [mailto:todmoses@...] Thanks for the hard data. My experience has been with clean installing over 98se. So what you are saying is that if you do a clean install XP over XP then you will lose data? If so, that is very much worth knowing. My only question is: has that been the case with other versions of Windows? I would be interested in the fix for future reference. Thanks Jase. ------------------------------------------------------------ This e-mail may be confidential. Any opinions expressed herein are the opinion of the writer unless there is an express indication to the contrary. If you are not the intended recipient of this communication please delete and destroy all copies and immediately reply by return e-mail. Ipex ITG disclaims all liability and responsibility for any direct or indirect loss arising from this e-mail and/or any attachments.