I don't have the Java machine on my system at all and although it means I can't do some things I'd like to do I have as yet not had any of these kinds of problems. All the active stuff in IE is very, very bad in my opinion 'cos it's like leaving a back door open for all sorts of destructive rubbish. Sorry this has happened to you sackrat but the last time this happened to me I had no choice but to reformat too. It suck's but sometimes it's the only way. 8) Catlin