OK, I took out the .pkgs Kynan suggested and the permissions check in Cocktail ran all the way through to its end. So...now what is the situation with iTunes? Can I run it or do I need to put these .pkgs back into the /Library/Receipts/ folder? thanks again people, tim And in other interesting news my brother a very long term windows user just informed me has purchased a new iMac 20 inch. While I was picking my lower jaw back up off the ground he asked me if I could come over and go through the basics with him when it arrives. Earth shattering..is hardly a word sufficient to describe this seismic shift in the plate tectonics of his computer experience in relation to me :-) tim.molnar http://www.digitaltao.ca tam at em.ca tmolnar at uvic phone: 250.472.5289