I have resolved the minor AOL snag that initiated this thread, courtesy of "System Restore" in XP. .....A bit late and obvious you may say, but daft as it sounds, I always associate this facility, wrongly I know, exclusively with 'Windows'.
A pity the more global (apt) problem highlighted can't be so easily remedied!
Thanks for time and suggestions.
Last edited by BLUE SKY THINKER; 30th January 2004 at 23:21.