> I firmly believe that computers can fix themselves. I have wrestled with computer glitchs for hours without success, and the next day it works perfectly. My scratch disk fiasco is a prime example. As long as I avoid that one picture that it doesn't like, I have no problem. Do you suppose it lied to me? The picture was a closeup of a motor scooter speedometer which has kilometers instead of miles.

The only thing I can think of, if this is the case, is that the picture was scanned in a very high resolution that results in a picture with way more 'information' than is apparent (for instance, last week I accidentally scanned a picture at 1600 dots per inch and it took about 5 minutes to load. Interestingly, it looked about the same as if I had done it at 300).

The default on the scratch disk for such an old program is probably rather low (considering how much hard drives have increased in size during the last few years). If you can find a way to increase that maximum all should be golden.

As to the "computers fixing themselves," the next generation or two of operating systems are certaintly converging on that point. I recently installed the beta version of the new Microsoft operating system and when an error occurs it is very efficient at collecting and sending information to resolve the issue (all you have to do is follow the instructions and (maybe) install something - for which it even provides the link). Windows XP does this, but not quite to the same exactness. I would guess that in the next few years, all the common problems will be easily solved and, if not, there is always remote assistance (where someone takes control of your computer). OK -- that was probably way to much information, but what the hey, you can just forget it all if you want.

--Kysle