>Ahem, if you'd know of such a beast, I'm curious if it would work on W2k?

Its new in XP, I believe, and just doubule checked. Its the "File And Settings Transfer Wizard." Like I said, I'm guessing at how it actually works cuase based on what I've heard cause I've never used it.

>They could do it... but I wouldn't like it. Why would any Microsoft's server need to know where I keep my toolbar, or what's my desktop color? That's called breach of privacy, IMO.

Fine. Then when it asks the server name to use for getting your files and settings from a Web service, change the default from "www.settings.microsoft.com" to the IP address of your home computer.

I'm just guessing at how this COULD work of course, but you have to keep in mind that even though Microsoft's and AOL's will be supply a huge majority of services to users who don't knwo any better, or simply enjoy the convience, they won't be the only ones with keys to your "virtual expierence".

Besides, if MS had great data of what users really want, maybe you'd have to set less settings everytime you installed on OS in the first place *bg*