thanks for your promptness. i use xp pro. i used to load files my external hard drive until it carked it luckily i had most backed up. i have got the files now on my c drive my music/limewire which has been working fine for afew weeks.have been in tools/options/downloads and tryed afew locations with no sucsess but you just made me have a further look and guess what. iwent one step further into advanced and download folders /configure and on this there is iclicked use default and hit ok and i am downloading sweet music again.thanks for planting the seed luv u birdy. rickth