Well Broni, i was looking on the microsoft site and theres a lot of issues about vista having driver compatability problems and they are still looking into these problems what i cant understand is i have had the computer only six months and its been fine because i have never had this computer connected to the internet i've only used it for music software but over the last two weeks i had to connect and thats when the problem started so there must lie the answer, its fine until it uploads any updates for vista and then its back to re-instating everything from disc , i've now unchecked the box that lets it download updates it was pissing me off,,,,,,,,,,,so i dont know mabe i shall just get someone to look at it, i shall let you know what was the cause when its hopefully fixed, i just hope i dont have to wipe the hard drive because i have installed a lot of music software which cost a fortune ,many many thanks for your help, if you didnt live so far away i would buy you a beer,,thanks Broni all the best.............Del