Thank you Southwest and gas path. One of the problems with aol, as I understand it, is that it really only likes I.E. so an alternative browser is possibly not an option.
gas path - I tried aol 7 and then spent three or four days trying to get my machine working again !

Frankly, I've had problems ever since changing from aol 3...... the principle of aol development seems to be 'if it's working OK, let's add some unnecessary bells and whistles to foul it up' - yes, I know, I should change ISPs but sheer unadulterated laziness and inertia rules. :o . I'm going to stop procrastinating .... tomorrow.