@ckamin;
thank you for the link to john's - interesting stuff, and exactly the stuff more ppl need to read

I had no problem accessing the site - and really felt like the disdain mentioned for winblows, and generally brain-dead cattle was me writing it

you've more than made my day - thank you
p.s. I am already aware of the other valuable links you posted...nice job

@Markus;
thank you also - for the link - I already use knoppix (though not enough yet) - and have known and did some research a little while back about Captive NTFS...Your link is the perfect update I need. Thanks

@Bill81
do you mean the site doesn't work ? or the procedures outlined there ?
If I understand you questions/post - the info is there to accomplish what you want to.