diff --git a/src/debugger/CartDebug.cxx b/src/debugger/CartDebug.cxx
index 0ddb67ce1..b5313aa9b 100644
--- a/src/debugger/CartDebug.cxx
+++ b/src/debugger/CartDebug.cxx
@@ -629,7 +629,7 @@ string CartDebug::loadSymbolFile(string file)
   {
     ifstream in(node.getPath().c_str());
     if(!in.is_open())
-      return DebuggerParser::red("symbol file '" + node.getRelativePath() + "' not found");
+      return DebuggerParser::red("symbol file '" + node.getShortPath() + "' not found");
 
     myUserAddresses.clear();
     myUserLabels.clear();
@@ -648,9 +648,9 @@ string CartDebug::loadSymbolFile(string file)
         addLabel(label, value);
     }
     in.close();
-    return "loaded " + node.getRelativePath() + " OK";
+    return "loaded " + node.getShortPath() + " OK";
   }
-  return DebuggerParser::red("symbol file '" + node.getRelativePath() + "' not found");
+  return DebuggerParser::red("symbol file '" + node.getShortPath() + "' not found");
 }
 
 // - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
@@ -786,7 +786,7 @@ string CartDebug::loadConfigFile(string file)
     }
     in.close();
 
-    return "loaded " + node.getRelativePath() + " OK";
+    return "loaded " + node.getShortPath() + " OK";
   }
   else
     return DebuggerParser::red("config file not found");
@@ -830,7 +830,7 @@ string CartDebug::saveConfigFile(string file)
     }
     out.close();
 
-    return "saved " + node.getRelativePath() + " OK";
+    return "saved " + node.getShortPath() + " OK";
   }
   else
     return DebuggerParser::red("config file not found");
diff --git a/src/debugger/Debugger.cxx b/src/debugger/Debugger.cxx
index 79fe2b49f..748edc27a 100644
--- a/src/debugger/Debugger.cxx
+++ b/src/debugger/Debugger.cxx
@@ -812,12 +812,12 @@ void Debugger::getCompletions(const char* in, StringList& list) const
 // - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 string Debugger::saveROM(const string& filename) const
 {
-  string path = AbstractFilesystemNode::getAbsolutePath(filename, "~", "a26");
+  string path = FilesystemNode::createAbsolutePath(filename, "~", "a26");
   FilesystemNode node(path);
 
   ofstream out(node.getPath().c_str(), ios::out | ios::binary);
   if(out.is_open() && myConsole.cartridge().save(out))
-    return node.getRelativePath();
+    return node.getShortPath();
   else
     return "";
 }
diff --git a/src/debugger/DebuggerParser.cxx b/src/debugger/DebuggerParser.cxx
index 8dfd2e2d4..ee6122eee 100644
--- a/src/debugger/DebuggerParser.cxx
+++ b/src/debugger/DebuggerParser.cxx
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ string DebuggerParser::exec(const FilesystemNode& file)
   {
     ifstream in(file.getPath().c_str());
     if(!in.is_open())
-      return red("autoexec file \'" + file.getRelativePath() + "\' not found");
+      return red("autoexec file \'" + file.getShortPath() + "\' not found");
 
     ostringstream buf;
     int count = 0;
@@ -149,12 +149,12 @@ string DebuggerParser::exec(const FilesystemNode& file)
       count++;
     }
     buf << "Executed " << debugger->valueToString(count) << " commands from \""
-        << file.getRelativePath() << "\"";
+        << file.getShortPath() << "\"";
 
     return buf.str();
   }
   else
-    return red("autoexec file \'" + file.getRelativePath() + "\' not found");
+    return red("autoexec file \'" + file.getShortPath() + "\' not found");
 }
 
 // - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
diff --git a/src/emucore/FSNode.cxx b/src/emucore/FSNode.cxx
index 6f48a81d6..caea63a5e 100644
--- a/src/emucore/FSNode.cxx
+++ b/src/emucore/FSNode.cxx
@@ -100,10 +100,10 @@ const string& FilesystemNode::getPath() const
 }
 
 // - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-string FilesystemNode::getRelativePath() const
+string FilesystemNode::getShortPath() const
 {
   assert(_realNode);
-  return _realNode->getRelativePath();
+  return _realNode->getShortPath();
 }
 
 // - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
@@ -130,6 +130,12 @@ bool FilesystemNode::isWritable() const
   return _realNode ? _realNode->isWritable() : false;
 }
 
+// - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
+bool FilesystemNode::isAbsolute() const
+{
+  return _realNode ? _realNode->isAbsolute() : false;
+}
+
 // - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 bool FilesystemNode::makeDir()
 {
@@ -141,3 +147,30 @@ bool FilesystemNode::rename(const string& newfile)
 {
   return (_realNode && _realNode->exists()) ? _realNode->rename(newfile) : false;
 }
+
+// - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
+string FilesystemNode::createAbsolutePath(
+    const string& p, const string& startpath, const string& ext)
+{
+  FilesystemNode node(p);
+  string path = node.getShortPath();
+
+  // Is path already absolute, or does it start with the given startpath?
+  // If not, we prepend the given startpath
+  if(!BSPF_startsWithIgnoreCase(p, startpath+BSPF_PATH_SEPARATOR) &&
+     !node.isAbsolute())
+    path = startpath + BSPF_PATH_SEPARATOR + p;
+
+  // Does the path have a valid extension?
+  // If not, we append the given extension
+  string::size_type idx = path.find_last_of('.');
+  if(idx != string::npos)
+  {
+    if(!BSPF_equalsIgnoreCase(path.c_str() + idx + 1, ext))
+      path = path.replace(idx+1, ext.length(), ext);
+  }
+  else
+    path += "." + ext;
+
+  return path;
+}
diff --git a/src/emucore/FSNode.hxx b/src/emucore/FSNode.hxx
index 347c5894f..2828ae0d8 100644
--- a/src/emucore/FSNode.hxx
+++ b/src/emucore/FSNode.hxx
@@ -150,9 +150,6 @@ class FilesystemNode
      * This will usually be a 'path' (hence the name of the method), but can
      * be anything that fulfills the above criterions.
      *
-     * @note Do not assume that this string contains (back)slashes or any
-     *       other kind of 'path separators'.
-     *
      * @return the 'path' represented by this filesystem node
      */
     virtual const string& getPath() const;
@@ -162,12 +159,9 @@ class FilesystemNode
      * symbol (if applicable), and is suitable for archiving (i.e. writing
      * to the config file).
      *
-     * @note Do not assume that this string contains (back)slashes or any
-     *       other kind of 'path separators'.
-     *
      * @return the 'path' represented by this filesystem node
      */
-    virtual string getRelativePath() const;
+    virtual string getShortPath() const;
 
     /**
      * Determine whether this node has a parent.
@@ -219,6 +213,13 @@ class FilesystemNode
      */
     virtual bool isWritable() const;
 
+    /**
+     * Indicates whether the path is a fully-qualified, absolute pathname.
+     *
+     * @return bool true if the object contains an absolute path, false otherwise.
+     */
+    virtual bool isAbsolute() const;
+
     /**
      * Create a directory from the current node path.
      *
@@ -233,6 +234,15 @@ class FilesystemNode
      */
     virtual bool rename(const string& newfile);
 
+    // TODO - this function is deprecated, and will be removed soon ...
+    /**
+      Create an absolute pathname from the given path (if it isn't already
+      absolute), pre-pending 'startpath' when necessary.  If the path doesn't
+      have an extension matching 'ext', append it to the path.
+     */
+    static string createAbsolutePath(const string& p, const string& startpath,
+                                     const string& ext);
+
   private:
     Common::SharedPtr<AbstractFilesystemNode> _realNode;
     FilesystemNode(AbstractFilesystemNode* realNode);
@@ -302,7 +312,7 @@ class AbstractFilesystemNode
      * Returns the 'path' of the current node, containing '~' and for archiving.
      */
 
-    virtual string getRelativePath() const = 0;
+    virtual string getShortPath() const = 0;
 
     /**
      * Indicates whether this path refers to a directory or not.
@@ -341,6 +351,13 @@ class AbstractFilesystemNode
      */
     virtual bool isWritable() const = 0;
 
+    /**
+     * Indicates whether the path is a fully-qualified, absolute pathname.
+     *
+     * @return bool true if the object contains an absolute path, false otherwise.
+     */
+    virtual bool isAbsolute() const = 0;
+
     /**
      * Create a directory from the current node path.
      *
@@ -355,14 +372,6 @@ class AbstractFilesystemNode
      */
     virtual bool rename(const string& newfile) = 0;
 
-    /**
-      Create an absolute pathname from the given path (if it isn't already
-      absolute), pre-pending 'startpath' when necessary.  If the path doesn't
-      have an extension matching 'ext', append it to the path.
-     */
-    static string getAbsolutePath(const string& p, const string& startpath,
-                                  const string& ext);
-
   protected:
     /**
      * The parent node of this directory.
@@ -374,10 +383,6 @@ class AbstractFilesystemNode
      * Construct a node based on a path; the path is in the same format as it
      * would be for calls to fopen().
      *
-     * Furthermore getNodeForPath(oldNode.path()) should create a new node
-     * identical to oldNode. Hence, we can use the "path" value for persistent
-     * storage e.g. in the config file.
-     *
      * @param path The path string to create a FilesystemNode for.
      */
     static AbstractFilesystemNode* makeFileNodePath(const string& path);
diff --git a/src/emucore/OSystem.cxx b/src/emucore/OSystem.cxx
index 39912ce35..f3258f5f8 100644
--- a/src/emucore/OSystem.cxx
+++ b/src/emucore/OSystem.cxx
@@ -210,11 +210,11 @@ bool OSystem::create()
       << "  Features: " << myFeatures << endl
       << "  " << myBuildInfo << endl << endl
       << "Base directory:       '"
-      << FilesystemNode(myBaseDir).getRelativePath() << "'" << endl
+      << FilesystemNode(myBaseDir).getShortPath() << "'" << endl
       << "Configuration file:   '"
-      << FilesystemNode(myConfigFile).getRelativePath() << "'" << endl
+      << FilesystemNode(myConfigFile).getShortPath() << "'" << endl
       << "User game properties: '"
-      << FilesystemNode(myPropertiesFile).getRelativePath() << "'" << endl;
+      << FilesystemNode(myPropertiesFile).getShortPath() << "'" << endl;
   logMessage(buf.str(), 1);
 
   // Get relevant information about the video hardware
@@ -356,19 +356,19 @@ void OSystem::setConfigPaths()
   if(s == "") s = myBaseDir + "stella.cht";
   node = FilesystemNode(s);
   myCheatFile = node.getPath();
-  mySettings->setString("cheatfile", node.getRelativePath());
+  mySettings->setString("cheatfile", node.getShortPath());
 
   s = mySettings->getString("palettefile");
   if(s == "") s = myBaseDir + "stella.pal";
   node = FilesystemNode(s);
   myPaletteFile = node.getPath();
-  mySettings->setString("palettefile", node.getRelativePath());
+  mySettings->setString("palettefile", node.getShortPath());
 
   s = mySettings->getString("propsfile");
   if(s == "") s = myBaseDir + "stella.pro";
   node = FilesystemNode(s);
   myPropertiesFile = node.getPath();
-  mySettings->setString("propsfile", node.getRelativePath());
+  mySettings->setString("propsfile", node.getShortPath());
 }
 
 // - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
@@ -565,7 +565,7 @@ bool OSystem::createConsole(const string& romfile, const string& md5sum)
         myFrameBuffer->showMessage("Multicart " + type + ", loading ROM" + id);
     }
     buf << "Game console created:" << endl
-        << "  ROM file: " << FilesystemNode(myRomFile).getRelativePath() << endl << endl
+        << "  ROM file: " << FilesystemNode(myRomFile).getShortPath() << endl << endl
         << getROMInfo(myConsole) << endl;
     logMessage(buf.str(), 1);
 
@@ -950,7 +950,7 @@ void OSystem::validatePath(string& path, const string& setting,
   if(!node.isDirectory())
     node.makeDir();
   path = node.getPath();
-  mySettings->setString(setting, node.getRelativePath());
+  mySettings->setString(setting, node.getShortPath());
 }
 
 // - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
diff --git a/src/gui/BrowserDialog.cxx b/src/gui/BrowserDialog.cxx
index f478530d9..5397a54d2 100644
--- a/src/gui/BrowserDialog.cxx
+++ b/src/gui/BrowserDialog.cxx
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ void BrowserDialog::updateListing()
   _nodeList->clear();
 
   // Update the path display
-  _currentPath->setLabel(_node.getRelativePath());
+  _currentPath->setLabel(_node.getShortPath());
 
   // Read in the data from the file system
   FSList content;
diff --git a/src/gui/FileSnapDialog.cxx b/src/gui/FileSnapDialog.cxx
index 601154f1e..2f9752cdb 100644
--- a/src/gui/FileSnapDialog.cxx
+++ b/src/gui/FileSnapDialog.cxx
@@ -225,29 +225,29 @@ void FileSnapDialog::setDefaults()
   const string& basedir = instance().baseDir();
 
   node = FilesystemNode("~");
-  myRomPath->setEditString(node.getRelativePath());
+  myRomPath->setEditString(node.getShortPath());
 
   mySnapPath->setEditString(instance().defaultSnapDir());
  
   const string& cheatfile = basedir + "stella.cht";
   node = FilesystemNode(cheatfile);
-  myCheatFile->setEditString(node.getRelativePath());
+  myCheatFile->setEditString(node.getShortPath());
 
   const string& palettefile = basedir + "stella.pal";
   node = FilesystemNode(palettefile);
-  myPaletteFile->setEditString(node.getRelativePath());
+  myPaletteFile->setEditString(node.getShortPath());
 
   const string& propsfile = basedir + "stella.pro";
   node = FilesystemNode(propsfile);
-  myPropsFile->setEditString(node.getRelativePath());
+  myPropsFile->setEditString(node.getShortPath());
 
   const string& eepromdir = basedir;
   node = FilesystemNode(eepromdir);
-  myEEPROMPath->setEditString(node.getRelativePath());
+  myEEPROMPath->setEditString(node.getShortPath());
 
   const string& statedir = basedir + "state";
   node = FilesystemNode(statedir);
-  myStatePath->setEditString(node.getRelativePath());
+  myStatePath->setEditString(node.getShortPath());
 
   mySnapSingle->setState(false);
   mySnap1x->setState(false);
@@ -309,49 +309,49 @@ void FileSnapDialog::handleCommand(CommandSender* sender, int cmd,
     case kRomDirChosenCmd:
     {
       FilesystemNode dir(myBrowser->getResult());
-      myRomPath->setEditString(dir.getRelativePath());
+      myRomPath->setEditString(dir.getShortPath());
       break;
     }
 
     case kSnapDirChosenCmd:
     {
       FilesystemNode dir(myBrowser->getResult());
-      mySnapPath->setEditString(dir.getRelativePath());
+      mySnapPath->setEditString(dir.getShortPath());
       break;
     }
 
     case kCheatFileChosenCmd:
     {
       FilesystemNode dir(myBrowser->getResult());
-      myCheatFile->setEditString(dir.getRelativePath());
+      myCheatFile->setEditString(dir.getShortPath());
       break;
     }
 
     case kPaletteFileChosenCmd:
     {
       FilesystemNode dir(myBrowser->getResult());
-      myPaletteFile->setEditString(dir.getRelativePath());
+      myPaletteFile->setEditString(dir.getShortPath());
       break;
     }
 
     case kPropsFileChosenCmd:
     {
       FilesystemNode dir(myBrowser->getResult());
-      myPropsFile->setEditString(dir.getRelativePath());
+      myPropsFile->setEditString(dir.getShortPath());
       break;
     }
 
     case kEEPROMDirChosenCmd:
     {
       FilesystemNode dir(myBrowser->getResult());
-      myEEPROMPath->setEditString(dir.getRelativePath());
+      myEEPROMPath->setEditString(dir.getShortPath());
       break;
     }
 
     case kStateDirChosenCmd:
     {
       FilesystemNode dir(myBrowser->getResult());
-      myStatePath->setEditString(dir.getRelativePath());
+      myStatePath->setEditString(dir.getShortPath());
       break;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/gui/LauncherDialog.cxx b/src/gui/LauncherDialog.cxx
index 7a875cb22..5445f6d2f 100644
--- a/src/gui/LauncherDialog.cxx
+++ b/src/gui/LauncherDialog.cxx
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ void LauncherDialog::updateListing(const string& nameToSelect)
   myPrevDirButton->setEnabled(myCurrentNode.hasParent());
 
   // Show current directory
-  myDir->setLabel(myCurrentNode.getRelativePath());
+  myDir->setLabel(myCurrentNode.getShortPath());
 
   // Now fill the list widget with the contents of the GameList
   StringList l;
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ void LauncherDialog::loadDirListing()
             if(BSPF_equalsIgnoreCase(ext, ".a26") || BSPF_equalsIgnoreCase(ext, ".bin") ||
                BSPF_equalsIgnoreCase(ext, ".rom"))
             {
-              FilesystemNode newFile(AbstractFilesystemNode::getAbsolutePath(
+              FilesystemNode newFile(FilesystemNode::createAbsolutePath(
                   filename, myCurrentNode.getPath(), ""));
               files.push_back(newFile);
             }
@@ -681,7 +681,7 @@ void LauncherDialog::handleCommand(CommandSender* sender, int cmd,
     case kStartupRomDirChosenCmd:
     {
       FilesystemNode dir(myRomDir->getResult());
-      instance().settings().setString("romdir", dir.getRelativePath());
+      instance().settings().setString("romdir", dir.getShortPath());
       // fall through to the next case
     }
     case kRomDirChosenCmd:
diff --git a/src/gui/RomAuditDialog.cxx b/src/gui/RomAuditDialog.cxx
index ac9272d05..b9c32f224 100644
--- a/src/gui/RomAuditDialog.cxx
+++ b/src/gui/RomAuditDialog.cxx
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ RomAuditDialog::~RomAuditDialog()
 void RomAuditDialog::loadConfig()
 {
   const string& currentdir =
-    instance().launcher().currentNode().getRelativePath();
+    instance().launcher().currentNode().getShortPath();
   const string& path = currentdir == "" ?
     instance().settings().getString("romdir") : currentdir;
 
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ void RomAuditDialog::handleCommand(CommandSender* sender, int cmd,
     case kAuditDirChosenCmd:
     {
       FilesystemNode dir(myBrowser->getResult());
-      myRomPath->setEditString(dir.getRelativePath());
+      myRomPath->setEditString(dir.getShortPath());
       myResults1->setLabel("");
       myResults2->setLabel("");
       break;
diff --git a/src/macosx/OSystemMACOSX.cxx b/src/macosx/OSystemMACOSX.cxx
index 570e30620..49dc64eff 100644
--- a/src/macosx/OSystemMACOSX.cxx
+++ b/src/macosx/OSystemMACOSX.cxx
@@ -49,5 +49,5 @@ OSystemMACOSX::~OSystemMACOSX()
 string OSystemMACOSX::defaultSnapDir()
 {
   FilesystemNode desktop("~/Desktop");
-  return desktop.isDirectory() ? desktop.getRelativePath() : "~";
+  return desktop.isDirectory() ? desktop.getShortPath() : "~";
 }
diff --git a/src/unix/FSNodePOSIX.cxx b/src/unix/FSNodePOSIX.cxx
index 90e38c0a0..428231c7e 100644
--- a/src/unix/FSNodePOSIX.cxx
+++ b/src/unix/FSNodePOSIX.cxx
@@ -67,11 +67,12 @@ class POSIXFilesystemNode : public AbstractFilesystemNode
     bool exists() const { return access(_path.c_str(), F_OK) == 0; }
     const string& getName() const   { return _displayName; }
     const string& getPath() const   { return _path; }
-    string getRelativePath() const;
+    string getShortPath() const;
     bool isDirectory() const { return _isDirectory; }
     bool isFile() const      { return _isFile;      }
     bool isReadable() const  { return access(_path.c_str(), R_OK) == 0; }
     bool isWritable() const  { return access(_path.c_str(), W_OK) == 0; }
+    bool isAbsolute() const;
     bool makeDir();
     bool rename(const string& newfile);
 
@@ -154,10 +155,8 @@ POSIXFilesystemNode::POSIXFilesystemNode(const string& p, bool verify)
   if(_path[0] == '~')
   {
     const char* home = getenv("HOME");
-    if (home != NULL && strlen(home) < MAXPATHLEN)
-    {
+    if (home != NULL)
       _path.replace(0, 1, home);
-    }
   }
 
   // Get absolute path  
@@ -178,7 +177,7 @@ POSIXFilesystemNode::POSIXFilesystemNode(const string& p, bool verify)
 }
 
 // - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-string POSIXFilesystemNode::getRelativePath() const
+string POSIXFilesystemNode::getShortPath() const
 {
   // If the path starts with the home directory, replace it with '~'
   const char* home = getenv("HOME");
@@ -280,6 +279,12 @@ bool POSIXFilesystemNode::getChildren(AbstractFSList& myList, ListMode mode,
   return true;
 }
 
+// - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
+bool POSIXFilesystemNode::isAbsolute() const
+{
+  return _path.length() > 0 && (_path[0] == '~' || _path[0] == '/');
+}
+
 // - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 bool POSIXFilesystemNode::makeDir()
 {
@@ -345,29 +350,3 @@ AbstractFilesystemNode* AbstractFilesystemNode::makeFileNodePath(const string& p
 {
   return new POSIXFilesystemNode(path);
 }
-
-// - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-string AbstractFilesystemNode::getAbsolutePath(const string& p,
-                                               const string& startpath,
-                                               const string& ext)
-{
-  // Does p start with the root directory or the given startpath?
-  // If not, it isn't an absolute path
-  string path = FilesystemNode(p).getRelativePath();
-  if(!BSPF_startsWithIgnoreCase(p, startpath+"/") &&
-     !BSPF_startsWithIgnoreCase(p, "/"))
-    path = startpath + "/" + p;
-
-  // Does the path have a valid extension?
-  // If not, we add the given one
-  string::size_type idx = path.find_last_of('.');
-  if(idx != string::npos)
-  {
-    if(!BSPF_equalsIgnoreCase(path.c_str() + idx + 1, ext))
-      path = path.replace(idx+1, ext.length(), ext);
-  }
-  else
-    path += "." + ext;
-
-  return path;
-}
diff --git a/src/win32/FSNodeWin32.cxx b/src/win32/FSNodeWin32.cxx
index 05640bd60..c811f3bea 100644
--- a/src/win32/FSNodeWin32.cxx
+++ b/src/win32/FSNodeWin32.cxx
@@ -98,11 +98,12 @@ class WindowsFilesystemNode : public AbstractFilesystemNode
     bool exists() const { return _access(_path.c_str(), F_OK) == 0; }
     const string& getName() const   { return _displayName; }
     const string& getPath() const   { return _path; }
-    string getRelativePath() const;
+    string getShortPath() const;
     bool isDirectory() const { return _isDirectory; }
     bool isFile() const      { return _isFile;      }
     bool isReadable() const  { return _access(_path.c_str(), R_OK) == 0; }
     bool isWritable() const  { return _access(_path.c_str(), W_OK) == 0; }
+    bool isAbsolute() const;
     bool makeDir();
     bool rename(const string& newfile);
 
@@ -288,7 +289,7 @@ WindowsFilesystemNode::WindowsFilesystemNode(const string& p)
 }
 
 // - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-string WindowsFilesystemNode::getRelativePath() const
+string WindowsFilesystemNode::getShortPath() const
 {
   // If the path starts with the home directory, replace it with '~'
   const string& home = myHomeFinder.getHomePath();
@@ -359,6 +360,12 @@ bool WindowsFilesystemNode::
   return true;
 }
 
+// - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
+bool WindowsFilesystemNode::isAbsolute() const
+{
+  return _path.length() >= 2 && (_path[0] == '~' || _path[1] == ':');
+}
+
 // - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 bool WindowsFilesystemNode::makeDir()
 {
@@ -411,29 +418,3 @@ AbstractFilesystemNode* AbstractFilesystemNode::makeFileNodePath(const string& p
 {
   return new WindowsFilesystemNode(path);
 } 
-
-// - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-string AbstractFilesystemNode::getAbsolutePath(const string& p,
-                                               const string& startpath,
-                                               const string& ext)
-{
-  // Does p start with a drive letter or the given startpath?
-  // If not, it isn't an absolute path
-  string path = FilesystemNode(p).getRelativePath();
-  bool startsWithDrive = path.length() >= 2 && path[1] == ':';
-  if(!BSPF_startsWithIgnoreCase(p, startpath+"\\") && !startsWithDrive)
-    path = startpath + "\\" + p;
-
-  // Does the path have a valid extension?
-  // If not, we add the given one
-  string::size_type idx = path.find_last_of('.');
-  if(idx != string::npos)
-  {
-    if(!BSPF_equalsIgnoreCase(path.c_str() + idx + 1, ext))
-      path = path.replace(idx+1, ext.length(), ext);
-  }
-  else
-    path += "." + ext;
-
-  return path;
-}
diff --git a/src/win32/OSystemWin32.cxx b/src/win32/OSystemWin32.cxx
index b419a1702..dc1dcf9ec 100644
--- a/src/win32/OSystemWin32.cxx
+++ b/src/win32/OSystemWin32.cxx
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ OSystemWin32::OSystemWin32()
     FilesystemNode appdata(homefinder.getAppDataPath());
     if(appdata.isDirectory())
     {
-      basedir = appdata.getRelativePath();
+      basedir = appdata.getShortPath();
       if(basedir.length() > 1 && basedir[basedir.length()-1] != '\\')
         basedir += '\\';
       basedir += "Stella";
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ string OSystemWin32::defaultSnapDir()
 {
   HomeFinder homefinder;
   FilesystemNode desktop(homefinder.getDesktopPath());
-  return desktop.isDirectory() ? desktop.getRelativePath() : "~";
+  return desktop.isDirectory() ? desktop.getShortPath() : "~";
 }
 
 // - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -