Did a system restore as recommended by njustice initially but that didn't fix the problem with CA. Finally realised that it was a bug that was a common problem with that software. (After googling it) Boy, I will never go There again. Wouldn't recommend CA in general, too resource intensive. Slowed everything the hell down. The computer reported a file attached to CA Internet Suite called PPCtl.dll that needed "repairing or that it was being used/shared by other programs or I'm lacking in administrator privileges". I replaced the file with good copies where required and no change. And I couldn't find any other programs that used the same file. So I finally decided to go into the registry to have a look. Turns out that the crucial registry keys (2 long lists - one for spyware detection, the other firewall) only had a read-only for the administrator/user name account I was in. But the "system" had full control. The way it was set up, the "system" and the "administrator" are 2 seperate entities. God knows what that's about because I certainly don't. But I had to change all the "read-only's" to full control. And that fixed the 2 problems I was having with accessing the CA software. Before I fixed it, I couldn't use the anti-spyware & firewall aspect of the CA program (where the dll file was employed) nor could I uninstall those same components. After I fixed the problem & uninstalled the entire package - I was home free. So that's what happened. Thanks for your help njustice and your query JeanInMontana. And thanks for your Welcome *smiles*