Have opened Task Manager (after a long wait) - and the mystery deepens.
Up to a maximum of 6 processes taking CPU capacity (but none of them showing more tha 01, 02, 03, 04, 05 or 06 (absolute maximum - and then only briefly) which I believe is %age per process. Therefore never more than 10% being used by active processes.
However the bottom bar shows a steady 100% usage for CPU - which reflects what I am seeing in the Google Toolbar monitor.
Another possible clue - lost the use of wireless mouse and keyboard in the 'accidental switch off'. Using wired devices until i can get it operating normal to investigate this.
About to try an earlier go-back/restore.
Last edited by Senior Paper Monitor; 9th July 2009 at 11:44.