Managed to keep spybot open (right clicking on pc bottom toolbar icon) long enough to check settings. I had ticked a box which was supposed to shut it down when it has finished, but seemed to close it before it starts to do anything.
Even the good computer sowtware can be a pain in the neck!
It is now updated and running again. It found one problem missed by Ad-aware, so was worth getting back.
Quack!
Geoff the Duck.