diff --git a/collects/framework/framework.ss b/collects/framework/framework.ss
index 92267e3d..62e39ca7 100644
--- a/collects/framework/framework.ss
+++ b/collects/framework/framework.ss
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@
     (filename)
     "Generates a name for an autosave file from \\var{filename}.")
    (path-utils:generate-backup-name
-    (string? . -> . string?)
+    (path? . -> . path?)
     (filename)
     "Generates a name for an backup file from \\var{filename}.")
    (finder:dialog-parent-parameter
@@ -500,13 +500,13 @@
     (opt->
      ()
      (string?
-      (union false? string?)
+      (union false? path?)
       boolean?
       string?
       (union false? regexp?)
       string?
       (union (is-a?/c top-level-window<%>) false?))
-     (union false? string?))
+     (union false? path?))
     (()
      ((name "Untitled")
       (directory #f)
@@ -524,12 +524,12 @@
    (finder:common-get-file
     (opt->
      ()
-     ((union string? false?)
+     ((union path? false?)
       string?
       (union regexp? false?)
       string?
       (union false? (is-a?/c top-level-window<%>)))
-     (union string? false?))
+     (union path? false?))
     (()
      ((directory #f)
       (prompt "Select File")
@@ -546,13 +546,13 @@
     (opt->
      ()
      (string?
-      (union false? string?)
+      (union false? path?)
       boolean?
       string?
       (union false? regexp?)
       string?
       (union (is-a?/c top-level-window<%>) false?))
-     (union false? string?))
+     (union false? path?))
     (()
      ((name "Untitled")
       (directory #f)
@@ -570,12 +570,12 @@
    (finder:std-get-file
     (opt->
      ()
-     ((union string? false?)
+     ((union path? false?)
       string?
       (union regexp? false?)
       string?
       (union false? (is-a?/c top-level-window<%>)))
-     (union string? false?))
+     (union path? false?))
     (()
      ((directory #f)
       (prompt "Select File")
@@ -592,13 +592,13 @@
     (opt->
      ()
      (string?
-      (union false? string?)
+      (union false? path?)
       boolean?
       string?
       (union false? regexp?)
       string?
       (union (is-a?/c top-level-window<%>) false?))
-     (union false? string?))
+     (union false? path?))
     (()
      ((name "Untitled")
       (directory #f)
@@ -620,12 +620,12 @@
    (finder:get-file
     (opt->
      ()
-     ((union string? false?)
+     ((union path? false?)
       string?
       (union regexp? string? false?)
       string?
       (union false? (is-a?/c top-level-window<%>)))
-     (union string? false?))
+     (union path? false?))
     (()
      ((directory #f)
       (prompt "Select File")
@@ -645,12 +645,12 @@
    (finder:common-get-file-list
     (opt->
      ()
-     ((union false? string?)
+     ((union false? path?)
       string?
       (union false? regexp?)
       string?
       (union false? (is-a?/c top-level-window<%>)))
-     (union (listof string?) false?))
+     (union (listof path?) false?))
     (()
      ((directory #f)
       (prompt "Select File")
@@ -696,17 +696,17 @@
     (handler)
     "Extracts the name from a handler.")
    (handler:handler-extension
-    (handler:handler? . -> . string?)
+    (handler:handler? . -> . (union (path? . -> . boolean?) (listof string?)))
     (handler)
     "Extracts the extension from a handler.")
    (handler:handler-handler
-    (handler:handler? . -> . (string? . -> . (is-a?/c frame:editor<%>)))
+    (handler:handler? . -> . (path? . -> . (is-a?/c frame:editor<%>)))
     (handler)
     "Extracs the handler's handling function")
    (handler:insert-format-handler
     (string?
-     (union string? (listof string?) (string? . -> . boolean?))
-     (string? . -> . (union false? (is-a?/c frame:editor<%>)))
+     (union string? (listof string?) (path? . -> . boolean?))
+     (path? . -> . (union false? (is-a?/c frame:editor<%>)))
      . -> .
      void?)
     (name pred handler)
@@ -721,7 +721,7 @@
     ". If it is a function, the filename is applied to the function and the"
     "functions result determines if this is the handler to use.")
    (handler:find-named-format-handler
-    (string? . -> . (string? . -> . (is-a?/c frame:editor<%>)))
+    (string? . -> . (path? . -> . (is-a?/c frame:editor<%>)))
     (name)
     "This function selects a format handler. See also"
     "@flink handler:insert-format-handler %"
@@ -729,7 +729,7 @@
     ""
     "It finds a handler based on \\var{name}.")
    (handler:find-format-handler
-    (string? . -> . (string? . -> . (is-a?/c frame:editor<%>)))
+    (path? . -> . (path? . -> . (is-a?/c frame:editor<%>)))
     (filename)
     "This function selects a format handler. See also"
     "@flink handler:insert-format-handler %"
@@ -739,7 +739,7 @@
 
    (handler:edit-file
     (opt->
-     ((union string? false?))
+     ((union path? false?))
      ((-> (is-a?/c frame:editor<%>)))
      (union false? (is-a?/c frame:editor<%>)))
     ((filename)
@@ -785,7 +785,7 @@
 
    (handler:current-create-new-window
     (case->
-     (((union false? string?) . -> . (is-a?/c frame%)) . -> . void)
+     (((union false? path?) . -> . (is-a?/c frame%)) . -> . void)
      (-> ((union false? string?) . -> . (is-a?/c frame%))))
     ((new-window-handler) ())
     "This is a parameter that controls how the framework"
@@ -833,7 +833,7 @@
     ".")
 
    (handler:add-to-recent
-    (string? . -> . void?)
+    (path? . -> . void?)
     (filename)
     "Adds a filename to the list of recently opened files.")
 
diff --git a/collects/framework/private/editor.ss b/collects/framework/private/editor.ss
index 78c6829c..669a7672 100644
--- a/collects/framework/private/editor.ss
+++ b/collects/framework/private/editor.ss
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@
           (define/public (update-frame-filename)
             (let* ([filename (get-filename)]
                    [name (if filename
-                             (file-name-from-path (normalize-path filename))
+                             (path->string (file-name-from-path (normalize-path filename)))
                              (get-filename/untitled-name))])
               (for-each (lambda (canvas)
                           (let ([tlw (send canvas get-top-level-window)])
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@
           (define/public (get-filename/untitled-name)
             (let ([filename (get-filename)])
               (if filename
-                  filename
+                  (path->string filename)
                   (begin
                     (unless untitled-name
                       (set! untitled-name (gui-utils:next-untitled-name)))
diff --git a/collects/framework/private/frame.ss b/collects/framework/private/frame.ss
index 767f4891..7a0de800 100644
--- a/collects/framework/private/frame.ss
+++ b/collects/framework/private/frame.ss
@@ -993,6 +993,7 @@
           [define get-label (lambda () label)]
           [define set-label
             (lambda (t)
+              (printf "set-label ~s\n" t)
               (when (and (string? t)
                          (not (string=? t label)))
                 (set! label t)
@@ -1179,8 +1180,8 @@
 	    [else (void)])
 
           (let ([ed-fn (send (get-editor) get-filename)])
-            (set! label (or (and ed-fn
-                                 (file-name-from-path ed-fn))
+            (set! label (or (and ed-fn 
+                                 (path->string (file-name-from-path ed-fn)))
                             (send (get-editor) get-filename/untitled-name))))
           (do-label)
           (let ([canvas (get-canvas)])
diff --git a/collects/framework/private/handler.ss b/collects/framework/private/handler.ss
index fbf7b52a..ce47f036 100644
--- a/collects/framework/private/handler.ss
+++ b/collects/framework/private/handler.ss
@@ -46,7 +46,9 @@
 	     [(not (procedure? handler))
 	      (error who "handler was not a function")]
 	     [else (make-handler name
-				 extension
+				 (if (string? extension)
+                                     (list extension)
+                                     extension)
 				 handler)]))))
       
       (define insert-format-handler
@@ -67,11 +69,8 @@
 		 (let ([ext (handler-extension handler)])
 		   (when (or (and (procedure? ext)
 				  (ext name))
-			     (and (string? ext)
-				  (string=? ext extension))
 			     (and (pair? ext)
-				  (ormap (lambda (ext) 
-					   (string=? ext extension))
+				  (ormap (lambda (ext) (string=? ext extension))
 					 ext)))
 		     (exit (handler-handler handler)))))
 	       handlers)
@@ -110,7 +109,7 @@
 		      (lambda ()
 			((current-create-new-window) filename)))]
 	 [(filename make-default)
-	  (with-handlers ([exn:fail?
+	  (with-handlers ([(lambda (x) #f) ;exn:fail?
 			   (lambda (exn)
 			     (message-box
 			      (string-constant error-loading)
@@ -144,7 +143,7 @@
 			  fr)]
 		       [else
 			(let ([handler
-			       (if (string? filename)
+			       (if (path? filename)
 				   (find-format-handler filename)
 				   #f)])
 			  (add-to-recent filename)
@@ -155,10 +154,12 @@
       
       ;; type recent-list-item = (list/p string? number? number?)
       
-      ;; add-to-recent : string -> void
+      ;; add-to-recent : path -> void
       (define (add-to-recent filename)
         (let* ([old-list (preferences:get 'framework:recently-opened-files/pos)]
-               [old-ents (filter (lambda (x) (string=? (car x) filename)) old-list)]
+               [old-ents (filter (lambda (x) (string=? (path->string (car x))
+                                                       (path->string filename))) 
+                                 old-list)]
                [old-ent (if (null? old-ents)
                             #f
                             (car old-ents))]
@@ -171,7 +172,8 @@
       
       ;; compare-recent-list-items : recent-list-item recent-list-item -> boolean
       (define (compare-recent-list-items l1 l2)
-        (string=? (car l1) (car l2)))
+        (string=? (path->string (car l1))
+                  (path->string (car l2))))
 
       ;; size-down : (listof X) -> (listof X)[< recent-max-count]
       ;; takes a list of stuff and returns the
@@ -201,7 +203,8 @@
       ;; with the positions `start' and `end'
       (define (set-recent-position filename start end)
         (let ([recent-items
-               (filter (lambda (x) (string=? (car x) filename))
+               (filter (lambda (x) (string=? (path->string (car x))
+                                             (path->string filename)))
                        (preferences:get 'framework:recently-opened-files/pos))])
           (unless (null? recent-items)
             (let ([recent-item (car recent-items)])
@@ -228,10 +231,12 @@
                       (let ([filename (car recent-list-item)])
                         (instantiate menu-item% ()
                           (parent menu)
-                          (label (regexp-replace*
-                                  "&"
-                                  (gui-utils:trim-string filename 200)
-                                  "&&"))
+                          (label (gui-utils:trim-string  
+                                  (regexp-replace*
+                                   "&"
+                                   (path->string filename)
+                                   "&&")
+                                  200))
                           (callback (lambda (x y) (open-recent-list-item recent-list-item))))))
                     recently-opened-files)))
 
@@ -299,7 +304,8 @@
               (for-each (lambda (item) (add-recent-item item))
                         (if (eq? (preferences:get 'framework:recently-opened-sort-by) 'name)
                             (quicksort recent-list-items
-                                       (lambda (x y) (string<=? (car x) (car y))))
+                                       (lambda (x y) (string<=? (path->string (car x))
+                                                                (path->string (car y)))))
                             recent-list-items))
               (send ed end-edit-sequence)))
           
diff --git a/collects/framework/private/main.ss b/collects/framework/private/main.ss
index e7c4ed31..767a0814 100644
--- a/collects/framework/private/main.ss
+++ b/collects/framework/private/main.ss
@@ -58,6 +58,35 @@
        (lambda (c) (list (send c red) (send c green) (send c blue)))
        (lambda (l) (make-object color% (car l) (cadr l) (caddr l))))
       
+      (preferences:set-default 'framework:recently-opened-files/pos 
+                               null 
+                               (lambda (x) (and (list? x) 
+                                                (andmap
+                                                 (lambda (x) 
+                                                   (and (list? x)
+                                                        (= 3 (length x))
+                                                        (bytes? (car x))
+                                                        (number? (cadr x))
+                                                        (number? (caddr x))))
+                                                 x))))
+      
+      (preferences:set-un/marshall
+       'framework:recently-opened-files/pos
+       (lambda (l) (map (lambda (ele) (cons (path->bytes (car ele)) (cdr ele))) l))
+       (lambda (l) 
+         (let/ec k
+           (unless (list? l)
+             (k '()))
+           (map (lambda (x)
+                  (unless (and (list? x)
+                               (= 3 (length x))
+                               (bytes? (car x))
+                               (number? (cadr x))
+                               (number? (caddr x)))
+                    (k '()))
+                  (cons (bytes->path (car x)) (cdr x)))
+                l))))
+      
       (preferences:set-default 'framework:last-directory (find-system-path 'home-dir) 
                                (lambda (x) (or (not x) path-string?)))
       
@@ -84,17 +113,6 @@
       (preferences:set-default 'framework:recent-items-window-h 600 number?)
       (preferences:set-default 'framework:open-here? #f boolean?)
       (preferences:set-default 'framework:show-delegate? #f boolean?)
-      (preferences:set-default 'framework:recently-opened-files/pos 
-                               null 
-                               (lambda (x) (and (list? x) 
-                                                (andmap
-                                                 (lambda (x) 
-                                                   (and (list? x)
-                                                        (= 3 (length x))
-                                                        (string? (car x))
-                                                        (number? (cadr x))
-                                                        (number? (caddr x))))
-                                                 x))))
       (preferences:set-default 'framework:search-using-dialog? #t boolean?)
       (preferences:set-default 'framework:windows-mdi #f boolean?)
       (preferences:set-default 'framework:menu-bindings #t boolean?)
diff --git a/collects/framework/private/path-utils.ss b/collects/framework/private/path-utils.ss
index cd4d2094..e7f500c1 100644
--- a/collects/framework/private/path-utils.ss
+++ b/collects/framework/private/path-utils.ss
@@ -49,18 +49,17 @@
 		      (loop (add1 n))
 		      new-name)))))))
 
-      (define re:backup (regexp "(.*)\\.[^.]*"))
-      
-      (define generate-backup-name
-	(lambda (name)
-	  (cond
-            [(and (eq? (system-type) 'windows)
-                  (regexp-match re:backup name))
-             =>
-             (lambda (m)
-               (string-append (cadr m) ".bak"))]
-            [(eq? (system-type) 'windows)
-             (string-append name ".bak")]
-            [else
-             (string-append name "~")]))))))
+      (define (generate-backup-name full-name)
+        (let-values ([(base name dir?) (split-path full-name)])
+          (let ([name-str (path->string name)])
+            (cond
+              [(and (eq? (system-type) 'windows)
+                    (regexp-match #rx"(.*)\\.[^.]*" name-str))
+               =>
+               (lambda (m)
+                 (build-path base (string-append (cadr m) ".bak")))]
+              [(eq? (system-type) 'windows)
+               (build-path base (string-append name-str ".bak"))]
+              [else
+               (build-path base (string-append name-str "~"))])))))))
 
diff --git a/collects/framework/private/text.ss b/collects/framework/private/text.ss
index 1aa0f35a..99fa5661 100644
--- a/collects/framework/private/text.ss
+++ b/collects/framework/private/text.ss
@@ -910,7 +910,7 @@ WARNING: printf is rebound in the body of the unit to always
               (channel-put this-eventspace-flush-chan c)
               (let ([viable-bytes (channel-get c)])
                 (do-insertion viable-bytes))))
-
+          
           (define/public (get-in-port)
             (unless in-port (error 'get-in-port "not ready"))
             in-port)
diff --git a/collects/mrlib/name-message.ss b/collects/mrlib/name-message.ss
index 5ab6ed30..4e2a4758 100644
--- a/collects/mrlib/name-message.ss
+++ b/collects/mrlib/name-message.ss
@@ -34,12 +34,14 @@
       ;; label : string
       (define label (string-constant untitled))
       
-      ;; set-message : boolean (union #f string) -> void
+      ;; set-message : boolean (union #f path string) -> void
+      ;; if file-name? is #t, path-name should be a path (or #f)
+      ;; if file-name? is #f, path-name should be a string (or #f)
       (define/public (set-message file-name? path-name)
         (set! paths (if (and file-name? 
                              path-name 
                              (file-exists? path-name))
-                        (explode-path (normalize-path path-name))
+                        (map path->string (explode-path (normalize-path path-name)))
                         #f))
         (let ([new-label (cond
                            [(and paths (not (null? paths)))