Update. The original problem,-delayed access,- was getting worse and affecting more programs as I removed stuff from the computer, scanned, and followed advice generously offered here and in PMs. I realised that I had spent about 20 hours fiddling with the accursed thing. Enough is enough.

Currently, I have pulled the power plug on the HD, installed an old 30gig from a spare computer and jumpered it to Master, and reinstalled most of my software. My intention is to get that HD right and then jumper the original 40gig to Slave, format it, and clone the 30gig onto it. Then swap the jumpers. After I find who I loaned Seagate Tools to.
I don't mind messing with hardware, but software tends to get up my nose!
Someone should design a computer with no harddrive, just a row of thumbdrives. Then you could pull them until you find the problem, or format the thing one piece at a time!

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