Hello once again all! WOW! Thanks for the great response! I regret having to communicate via Win98 as my Linux modem is in the shop for repairs (I have a spare "real modem" on order too), but for now am on a "Winmodem". I have read all the replies, and they were exactly what I was wanting. I have a couple of ORielly volumes on C/C++ programming, I hope to understand same real soon. This is my second crack at learning computer programming, my first was with my Apple][ in about 1978 or so. I had all of 16K RAM (installed myself), and I recorded my programs (in Apple BASIC) on audio cassettes. I now have as much power as my college had then (almost) an IBM 360 using COBOL. Although I don't have any of the standard accessories: tape drives, card readers, key punch machines, and etc. Thanks for helping an old codger out! vern