If you are - running windows 32bit - and 9.2.0.8 - and have kept up to date with CPU patching. you will wish to download and test Patchset 8 patch 6038279 to resolve the issues addressed in Note *434527.1.** **W*itout this patch it is likely that your database is unrecoverable. -- Niall Litchfield Oracle DBA http://www.orawin.info