Hi Guys,
    I am writing to you from the XP machine with no other gubbins but an
external modem on COM1:

    It works quite happily without modification, so long as it is not asked
to use COM3 or COM4. All current internal modems are factory set to run on
COM4: Major PITA, but the external one was only a fraction of the cost of a
US Robotics Courier HST which was my first 9600 Baud modem, and it has no
choice but to go on whichever serial port is available for it.

    Thank you all for your suggestions. Particularly Roger and Charles. My
apologies for starting a hare, but now that we know the answer it really
was quite funny. It was certainly much less effort than messing about
withmultiple operating systems.

    I think I am going to use Windows Backup, and Windows restore this
time. I am still haunted by that ghost. :-)

Best Wishes,
Bill.

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