Thank you all most kindly!  I was getting withdrawal symptoms.

I dont understand why I could not log in using [email protected], it must be something to do with windows live.  Whenever I tried to logout then login using it, it refused to let me and I started to worry about the 3 strikes and you're out.

 

I stll cannot access my board where all my pics are stored!

 

I  received news from Rent-a-geek today - my computer is shagged, with a possible bright spot that the hard-drive is probably OK.  Motherboard and environs have crossed the great divide, apparantly.  I'll get a new one built from scratch this time round and the sooner the better.  I hate laptops and I hate vista!

 

Regards all