I've had success with Briefcase in 7, as long as the case itself stays below a certain size limit. (Don't know what that is, exactly - it has worked for 1-ish GB folders, it doesn't with 20GB itunes libraries...)
Sorry for the late follow up. I'm only home (where my Briefcase backs up) on weekends.
Two reboots (not one, two), and everything's back to normal.
So, um, thanks! Must have been an ID-ten-T error.
(And, Geek, for better or worse, I tend to look for "systemic" help here... Access and Word help, I go to MS' boards, and Excel I go to MrExcel... But if Windows or hardware confounds me...It's straight to CH!)