Thanks John, I may try that compaction routine after restoring the old .pst file (I have found out how to swithc .pst files, if I can remember it)

I only run clean software, but I object to being spied upon - by Microsnot or anyone else, and do run a full antivirus (not mcAfee or Norton, both are complete crap) with a firewall, and a firewall on my router, and Spybot and Ad-Aware.

I ain't bullet-proof, but I am reasonably secure thanks.   

I think the fault was Windoze.

I really would like a whole set of programs that were not full of unneeded features (EG CV formats that only the illiterate would use) - but enabled you readily to do what you need to do: like the exact opposite of the evil empire's stuff.