Tarq57, I clicked on the MBAM ink you kindly provided but since I can't get into Explorer, it wouldn't connect to the site.
BOAC, once I'm on hotmail, I can type an Internet address into the address bar and that's how I'm able to get on other sites. I've also discovered that I can get onto regular hotmail by typing the address of my homepage (Sympatico) into the hotmail version that I'm keeping open. Then I can get into my regular hotmail that way.
Everyone, I'm pretty close to being computer illiterate so that compounds the problem. I thought there might be an obvious solution or a quick fix but I should have known better...never my experience with computers. I have to leave this for a few hours since I am on holidays and can't dedicate most of the day to cursing my computer. Will play with it again later and report back if I make any progress.
Thanks very much for your input. Much appreciated!
LA