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Thanks again for the instructions on how to get the pesky icons off my TP755CD's screen. As suggested, I checked the "load" line in win.ini and found the culpert. Now that this is behind me, I'm off on another quest. Some of you may remember that I coupled a GPS receiver to my machine via the serial port and used it on a long trip to plot my location on a extrememly detailed map that came on CD ROM. I also have a tiny B/W TV camera that's about the size of matchbox and have used it (held on to the TP's case with velcro) to take "snapshots" via the video in connection. The problem with this is that the camera needs an external power supply in the 8-14 volt range. It only pulls about 250 milliwats. To supply this, I made up a rechargable battery pack and hold it to the laptop's case with velcro as well. Frankly, this solution seems bad and I'd like to tap the laptops' battery for the power connection. Here's my question- do any of you all know which pins on which ports might carry battery voltage in the 1/2 amp range? I read a comment once where a person mentioned the mouse port as supplying voltage, but I am not sure. In addition, the tiny plug on the video connector is fine, but the magnet surrounding the wire (to comply with FCC specs) is cumbersome and a pain in the rump. Does anyone know what havoc I'd wreak if I did a "magnetectomy?" Finally, the plug going into the "video in" socket has three pins plus the case itself as a ground, or "common." Has anyone dissected the "S" video/composite adapter at the other end of the short wire to determine which wires or pins actually carry the composite signal to the "video in" port. By knowing this, I could further reduce the size and bulk of the connection by directly soldering the two conductors from the camera to just the tiny pin via a short length of coax. It sure would be nice if the ports came with a schematic <grin>. I'll keep you all posted of my progress. Tom Thomas A. Gauldin Here's to the land of the Longleaf Pine 12333 Wingspread Way The Summerland, where the sun doth Shine Raleigh NC 27614-9245 Where the weak grow Strong and the Strong grow Great (919) 676-1404 fax only Here's to Downhome, the Old North State scoundrl@nando.net scoundrl@vnet.net