Thanks to the several pros who sent their offerings of
help regarding my NT problem.  I would have preferred
to thank you via p-mail, but unfortunately the computer
i used to send the plea and get the responses has left
the premises...and i don't have your addresses.

Tom C. and Bill correctly diagnoised the
cure...reinstall service pack 4...(i could not find it,
so had to download SP 5...3 hours after 2 tries!).

Thanks.  You nearly saved my life!
steve

And thanks to everyone else for tolerating this
off-topic plea for help.