just want to thank you all for your help.
my husband came home last weekend, (he works away and cycles at weekends a lot) and within 10 minutes all was well.
it was what everyone thought it was...but as you so rightly pointed out not easy to explain to a computerdunce!
thank you all for your time and help, and no doubt i will be back on here with another problem soon!
cheers
iminei