thanks rugsucker and ronni for advice
Thanks for your great info; very much appreciated. I also found out that this is one of the models with the basement/attic dial and a nifty place to store extra bags as well on the bottom! Well, I was all ready to fire it up, got new bag installed - easy peasy..... plugged it into wall socket. It popped, sparked and quit!!! I think it might just be the plug part of the cord (it seemed a little loose, like it wasn't quite making contact), but I'm no expert and splicing a new plug is something I'm a little leery of, too. I did try another wall socket just to be sure, but nothing. I'm truly hoping that's all that's gone wrong...and so soon, too 
Anyway, thanks again for the help.
