It was very frustrating trying to work out why the backgrounds would not stay put, then I realised that I could see them on the site while no one else could, but that was because the originals were stored on my computer.
Behind the picture backgrounds it is suggested that you put a color page so that while the page loads fully there is a change of color from white, so that members with slow connections will know that the page is actually loading.
I have also learned that the rules for putting in a background picture have also changed, it used to be that you could store a picture in a folder on any MSN site and then use it as a background on a page on another site, but that seems now not to be the case, as the only way everyone could see them was to move them to a folder on this site, which I have now done.
I think the whole thing is actually to prevent bandwidth theft, taking space from another site and using it on your own site.
So now that I am very much wiser in the ways of MSN it will be much easier in the future.
Putting this on this message list for others who may need it in the future.
Bleggy