thanks Jim >Initializing means formatting. Puts the mac basic file system on the >disc. Usually >a good thing to do with a new disc. got that bit - it wants me to do it but I don't want to because it's got stuff on it I want, hence the question >The ATA bus is the disc controller. It is the many pin ribbon cable >plugged into your discs. great - this makes sense now but how can I plug that into a powerbook or imac - perhaps using an adaptor? regards mark -- Mark Walker ************** Sussex Community Internet Project http://www.scip.org.uk THE FUTURE IS ABOUT PEOPLE NOT TECHNOLOGY SCIP, Community Base, 113 Queens Road, Brighton BN1 3XG TEL 01273 234049 * MARK'S MOBILE 07956 627116 ************** SCIP is supported by Brighton & Hove Regeneration Partnership and Brighton & Hove City Council. SCIP was founded in 1995 and is registered as an incorporated not for profit private limited company, reg. no. 3819836. **************