Hi Sorry if this sounds negative but I had some pretty bad problems with AOL 7 overwriting stuff and causing crashes to my software not the os.(I also know several people who have had the same problems). The solution well I quite politly, not, told aol that if they could provide me with straight internet access(I.e. using the IE6 browser without their ...... browser) I would carry on using them otherwise get lost! Software btw where you get unsolicited messages from bored hosewives who suggest you are having carnel relations with your pets!! so much for security! It took me 4 months to remove all of the bits of their browser it was all over the show. Soo. perhaps one of these 'bits' on your system may be causing the problem. just my opinion Dave