when i copy a directory, using cp -a or cd from_dir ; tar cf - original_dir | ( cd to_dir ; \ tar xfBp - ) and check them both with tar cf - dir | sha1sum, i get different checksums although both dirs have the same name and matching pairs of files have the same sha1sum. am i doing something wrong? tia, charles f zeitler : Do What Thou Wilt : : Shall Be : : The Whole of The Law :