Fes: thanks for your links, I really do appreciate your time
I've just read that forum page - interesting, but I got rid of the Protexis entries in the registry and there's nothing under their name in Computer Management. I checked their website after you brought the name up but sounds a bit dodgy to me. The Corel 'fix' looks like the same one that was in the zap file customer support [HA!] sent to me. A normal system restore would be unfeasible if not impossible (problem occured September-ish) and I don't want to do a full system re-install and have to re-install all my programs and set-up when eveything else is working smoothly (fingers crossed!) - last image of system I took was about a month ago so that wouldn't be any use either I'm afraid. What worried me in that forum was the implication that once a Corel program declares itself to be corrupt there's no way it can be re-installed
without a full system re-install
I did have Corel Office installed as well but I uninstalled that a while back so as to make sure (
try and make sure!) all Corel bits were removed - shared dlls etc.
Steve thanks for your attention too
- re the trial version: when things went wrong the Corel clowns (sorry, customer support) sent me a link to what turned out to be the trial version and every link I tried thereafter ( i.e. via the download insurance link ) was to the same. It installs, 50% of the time, but when I click to open the program I get that darned message. There's nothing in the install procedure where I can enter my activation code and, because it wont open, I can't validate from within the program.
What's really getting to me now is that:
a) I've had more support on here than Corel has given
b) Corel
knew that there was/is a problem but their CS not only sent duff (and insulting!) links but also tried to blame me!
It's the principle of the thing now. What do I need Painter for when I've got Xara?
Artrage and Inkscape can fill in the gaps.
Life's too short .... but I'm not letting them off the hook tho!
Thanks again guys
John