hey layback bear, well here is what i have done. all hareware drivers all seem to be installed and good, so reinstalled MSE and noticed that the MPKSL drivers are trying to install. uninstalled MSE and installed clamwin free. i haved used it before and like it real well. we will see what else we can locate about MSE/MPKSL driver issue. i know alot of folks have had this problem and some don't seem to ever have had it. hmm. don't know. has to be something in the updating of MSE. i wonder why my vista doesn't have it. thanks for the help and advice. poorguy.