nice thought Trip. i do have a diskpart script running on window_onload but the cardreader seems to retain the letter unless i close and re-open the HTA application: this is what i currently have: Sub Window_OnLoad Document.body.style.cursor = "Wait" If ObjFSO.driveexists("c:") Then Objapp.run "Diskpart /s remc.txt",0,true objapp.run "ping 127.0.0.1",0,true END IF IF ObjFSO.driveexists("D:") Then Objapp.run "Diskpart /s remd.txt",0,true objapp.run "ping 127.0.0.1",0,true END IF Document.body.style.cursor = "Auto" End Sub diskpart scrips are as follows: Sel Vol C: Remove Letter=C NOERR Exit any further ideas,,,, not only that i sent a support request to MS about the drive lettering that WinPE allocates when system is booted with multiple drives.... but thats another nightmare in itself. if you are not aware of this letting issue then this is how it goes. drives have partitons configured on them: Disk(0)Partition(1) = C: Disk(1)Partition(1) = D: Disk(0)Partition(2) = E: Argh! hopefully they will send me a fix for this. ignore the lack of object declarations and types.... i didn't bother adding them on here but do exist on the program