You aren't going to like my answer, so I hope someone else jumps in with different advice.

I dump stuff all the time - being a cautious person, I create a folder, put everything I think I can afford to dump and trash the folder. Then I fire up the program and "try it and see."

If FCP tells me something important is missing, I shut down, drag the folder out of the trash, and put it all back. Then when the program starts up again I click on "Reconnect media" and everything reverts back.

Then I dump something else and try it and see.

But since you don't want to try that, I'm at a loss as to what you can do.

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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

actually that was a great response. I think I didn't phrase the question correctly. What I was most afraid of was that i couldn't operate anything at all on FCP after I cleared some scratch. I did what you suggested though and it worked nicely.

Thanks for your help.

- D -

Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded. - 2 Chronicles 15:7

"Accept that some days you are the pigeon and some days you are the statue" - David Brent