Dave Dunfield wrote: Hi Chuck, I think this is a separate issue, what to do to protect the physical artifacts in our various collections - In this sense, diskettes are no different than computers, S-100 cards or any other physical thing that you consider valuable/important enough to want to insure it's survival bayond your own ability to care for it. Each of us must put in place whatever arrangements we feel are appropriate. [snip] Physical artifacts are a topic for another discussion. I would suggest that at the very least we place the following information somewhere where it will be available to anyone with the unfortunate task of having to clean our our basements: - And indication that the material is important and should not be contributed to landfill. (If you have valuable items in your collection, I assume you would identify those for your estate). - Names and contact information of knowlegable people who can help in it's disposition. If nothing else, information about how to contact this list. Regards, Dave Sorry Dave, but I disagree with you; at least in my personal case. I'm retiring in 3 months and my number one object is to clean out the garage. When I die, my family has no interest and will ship it all to a land fill unless there is something specific they know is promised to someone. So my top priority is not to copy the files and get them to an archive. Top priority is to physically ship them to someone who gives a damn. I've been giving Al bits and pieces, but by the end of this year, I'm talking truck loads - more than he can absorb. Some of it will go to eBay just because of the value of it - with no income, money is more precious. I've promised Al I would sell nothing until he can scan it. But rarer items go to the auction block. I've no choice; the money will be needed. Software is tougher. If it was common, I've already thrown most of it away. But there are still piles and boxes of floppies and CDs. If Al wants them, they are his. I'll put a notice on this list and give the rest away if they are wanted. If not, they go to the dump. I'm not going to bother to sort and list hundreds of floppies. So I'm doing part of what you mentioned. But with thousands of items, it's not possible to make a detailed list. The more valuable items are identified. But the rest goes as land fill unless I do something ahead of time. Hence being my top priority. You youngsters don't have to face this for a while. But I've seen too many book collections lost or destroyed. Lingering or putting off these decisions usually result in total loss of the collection. A bitch isn't it? Save items 40-50 years; then have to get rid of to see that they maintain some overall usefulness. Billy