Thanks GG and muppetbum. Her new machine is a mini tower and I have swopped the supplied ('orrible) keyboard which used the usual PS2 connection with a logitech one which uses a USB connector. No difference, however I am pretty sure that it is set up as a U.K. keyboard as shift 3 gives a £ symbol not #. (and typing this on my laptop using a U.S. marked keyboard with a U.K. keyboard driver is another interesting task!) I still have to try the recommended cut-and-paste trick
P.P.