thanks Hi-tec.

i'm indeed using version 0.5.14.
when searching for my wallet files to back up using your suggested lettering 'no files found' comes up.

where can i find my keys in multibit to at least manually note them as a backup?

when changing to a newer version of multibit, do I still have to export keys? if not that might be safer for me. how would I do that?
i'm not worried if a multibit transfer confirmation takes a bit longer - as long it's executed within 48 hrs max.
in any case i just want to transfer BTC to an a/c at bitstamp, from where I want to sell them and be done.

how much does multibit charge to transfer BTC to bitstamp and how do they debit their fees?

many thanks!