Sorry got a bit word blind on picked HP instead of PB

The scanner drivers are from 02/2004
also check the support area. they even have a tool to find you machines serial number.

powerscan is spyware. When downloading the CD covers you/he must of clicked yes to an install which has now installed tones of stuff. USe Ad-adware or spy-bot to clean up, or the new microsoft one, it found a lot of stuff adaware didn't.

You may also of got a rouge dialer which has changed your connection setting. Check in internet options>connections and see if you broadband connection is the default and the connect option is right.

I did a ad aware and spyware scan last night and dumped everything out that was highlighted so with some luck it's done the trick.

I thought a rogue dialler couldn't interfere with a broadband connection because it's a broadband and not narrowband connection? Again i don't pretend to be knowledgeable about stuff like that.

The connection problem has been sorted out courtesy of my ISP's broadband support network. The wrong thing on the communications part of the Internet Options option had been checked but it's now been sorted out (for now)

And Vinnie i will check out those links you provided, thank you so much