diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index c6df3966..03465adc 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@ v0.37.00	26-Dec-2002.
 		configuration.
 		Debug logging for mail and news now have one setting, the M.
 		Nodelist debug logging now uses the N character.
+		In some makefiles the chown user.group syntax changed to
+		user:group to follow the new POSIX syntax. Please let me know
+		if you are using an older distribution that complains about
+		this. This was needed for FreeBSD 4.7.
 
 	libs:
 		The nodelist lookup functions are now in a separate library.
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 8302f7a2..ccc1e980 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -30,13 +30,13 @@ install:
 		fi
 		@if [ ! -d ${PREFIX}/bin ] ; then \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/bin ; \
-			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/bin ; \
+			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/bin ; \
 		fi
 		@if [ ! -d ${PREFIX}/etc ] ; then \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/etc ; \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/etc/maptabs ; \
-			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/etc ; \
-			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/etc/maptabs ; \
+			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/etc ; \
+			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/etc/maptabs ; \
 		fi
 		@chmod 0775 ${PREFIX}/etc
 		@if [ -f ${PREFIX}/etc/lastcall.data ] ; then \
@@ -47,34 +47,34 @@ install:
 		fi
 		@if [ ! -d ${PREFIX}/doc ] ; then \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/doc ; \
-			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/doc ; \
+			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/doc ; \
 		fi
 		@if [ ! -d ${PREFIX}/fdb ] ; then \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/fdb ; \
-			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/fdb ; \
+			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/fdb ; \
 		fi
 		@chmod 0775 ${PREFIX}/fdb
 		@if [ ! -d ${PREFIX}/log ] ; then \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/log ; \
-			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/log ; \
+			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/log ; \
 		fi
 		@chmod 0775 ${PREFIX}/log
 		@if [ ! -d ${PREFIX}/magic ] ; then \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/magic ; \
-			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/magic ; \
+			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/magic ; \
 		fi
 		@if [ ! -d ${PREFIX}/sema ] ; then \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/sema ; \
-			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/sema ; \
+			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/sema ; \
 		fi
 		@chmod 0777 ${PREFIX}/sema
 		@if [ ! -d ${PREFIX}/var ] ; then \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/var ; \
-			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/var ; \
+			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/var ; \
 		fi
 		@if [ ! -d ${PREFIX}/tmp ] ; then \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/tmp ; \
-			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/tmp ; \
+			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/tmp ; \
 		fi
 		@chmod 0775 ${PREFIX}/tmp
 		@if [ ! -d ${PREFIX}/dutch ] ; then \
@@ -82,55 +82,55 @@ install:
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/dutch/txtfiles ; \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/dutch/menus ; \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/dutch/macro ; \
-			${CHOWN} -R ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/dutch ; \
+			${CHOWN} -R ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/dutch ; \
 		fi
 		@if [ ! -d ${PREFIX}/english ] ; then \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/english ; \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/english/txtfiles ; \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/english/menus ; \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/english/macro ; \
-			${CHOWN} -R ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/english ; \
+			${CHOWN} -R ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/english ; \
 		fi
 		@if [ ! -d ${PREFIX}/italian ] ; then \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/italian ; \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/italian/txtfiles ; \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/italian/menus ; \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/italian/macro ; \
-			${CHOWN} -R ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/italian ; \
+			${CHOWN} -R ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/italian ; \
 		fi
 		@if [ ! -d ${PREFIX}/spanish ] ; then \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/spanish ; \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/spanish/txtfiles ; \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/spanish/menus ; \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/spanish/macro ; \
-			${CHOWN} -R ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/spanish ; \
+			${CHOWN} -R ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/spanish ; \
 		fi
 		@if [ ! -d ${PREFIX}/galego ] ; then \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/galego ; \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/galego/txtfiles ; \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/galego/menus ; \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/galego/macro ; \
-			${CHOWN} -R ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/galego ; \
+			${CHOWN} -R ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/galego ; \
 		fi
 		@if [ ! -d ${PREFIX}/german ] ; then \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/german; \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/german/txtfiles ; \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/german/menus ; \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/german/macro ; \
-			${CHOWN} -R ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/german; \
+			${CHOWN} -R ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/german; \
 		fi
 		@if [ ! -d ${PREFIX}/ftp ] ; then \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/ftp ; \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/ftp/pub ; \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/ftp/incoming ; \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/ftp/pub/local ; \
-			${CHOWN} `id -un`.`id -gn` ${PREFIX}/ftp ; \
+			${CHOWN} `id -un`:`id -gn` ${PREFIX}/ftp ; \
 			chmod 0755 ${PREFIX}/ftp ; \
-			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/ftp/pub ; \
+			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/ftp/pub ; \
 			chmod 0755 ${PREFIX}/ftp/pub ; \
-			${CHOWN} `id -un`.`id -gn` ${PREFIX}/ftp/incoming ; \
+			${CHOWN} `id -un`:`id -gn` ${PREFIX}/ftp/incoming ; \
 			chmod 0755 ${PREFIX}/ftp/incoming ; \
-			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/ftp/pub/local ; \
+			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/ftp/pub/local ; \
 			chmod 0755 ${PREFIX}/ftp/pub/local ; \
 		fi
 		@if [ ! -d ${PREFIX}/var/bso ] ; then \
@@ -142,19 +142,19 @@ install:
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/var/badtic ; \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/var/ticqueue ; \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/var/mail ; \
-			${CHOWN} -R ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/var ; \
+			${CHOWN} -R ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/var ; \
 			chmod -R 0750 ${PREFIX}/var ; \
 		fi
 		@if [ ! -d ${PREFIX}/var/boxes ]; then \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/var/boxes ; \
-			${CHOWN}  ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/var/boxes ; \
+			${CHOWN}  ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/var/boxes ; \
 			chmod 0750 ${PREFIX}/var/boxes ; \
 		fi
 		@if [ ! -d ${PREFIX}/var/unknown ] ; then \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/var/unknown ; \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/var/inbound ; \
-			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/var/unknown ; \
-			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/var/inbound ; \
+			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/var/unknown ; \
+			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/var/inbound ; \
 			chmod 0750 ${PREFIX}/var/unknown ; \
 			chmod 0750 ${PREFIX}/var/inbound ; \
 		fi
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ install:
 		@chmod 0770 ${PREFIX}/var/mail
 		@if [ ! -d ${PREFIX}/var/arealists ] ; then \
 			mkdir ${PREFIX}/var/arealists ; \
-			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/var/arealists ; \
+			${CHOWN} ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/var/arealists ; \
 			chmod 0750 ${PREFIX}/var/arealists ; \
 		fi
 		@if [ -x ${BINDIR}/mbfbgen ]; then \
diff --git a/html/Makefile b/html/Makefile
index 20c398b7..477d0ace 100644
--- a/html/Makefile
+++ b/html/Makefile
@@ -103,14 +103,14 @@ install:
 		@mkdir -p ${PREFIX}/html/misc
 		@mkdir -p ${PREFIX}/html/programs
 		@mkdir -p ${PREFIX}/html/setup
-		@${CHOWN} ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/html
-		@${CHOWN} ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/html/ftsc
-		@${CHOWN} ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/html/images
-		@${CHOWN} ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/html/license
-		@${CHOWN} ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/html/menus
-		@${CHOWN} ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/html/misc
-		@${CHOWN} ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/html/programs
-		@${CHOWN} ${OWNER}.${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/html/setup
+		@${CHOWN} ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/html
+		@${CHOWN} ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/html/ftsc
+		@${CHOWN} ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/html/images
+		@${CHOWN} ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/html/license
+		@${CHOWN} ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/html/menus
+		@${CHOWN} ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/html/misc
+		@${CHOWN} ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/html/programs
+		@${CHOWN} ${OWNER}:${GROUP} ${PREFIX}/html/setup
 		@${INSTALL} -c -o ${OWNER} -g ${GROUP} -m 0444 ${H_BASE}    ${PREFIX}/html
 		@${INSTALL} -c -o ${OWNER} -g ${GROUP} -m 0444 ${H_FTSC}    ${PREFIX}/html/ftsc
 		@${INSTALL} -c -o ${OWNER} -g ${GROUP} -m 0444 ${H_IMAGES}  ${PREFIX}/html/images
diff --git a/mbfido/Makefile b/mbfido/Makefile
index 0376882e..f94c66e5 100644
--- a/mbfido/Makefile
+++ b/mbfido/Makefile
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ install:	all
 		ln -s ${BINDIR}/mbfido ${BINDIR}/mbmail
 		rm -f ${BINDIR}/mbnews
 		ln -s ${BINDIR}/mbfido ${BINDIR}/mbnews
-		(cp maptabs.tgz ${PREFIX}; cd ${PREFIX}; tar xfz maptabs.tgz; ${CHOWN} ${OWNER}.${GROUP} etc/maptabs/*; rm ${PREFIX}/maptabs.tgz)
+		(cp maptabs.tgz ${PREFIX}; cd ${PREFIX}; tar xfz maptabs.tgz; ${CHOWN} ${OWNER}:${GROUP} etc/maptabs/*; rm ${PREFIX}/maptabs.tgz)
 		chmod 0775 ${PREFIX}/etc
 
 filelist:	Makefile