Thanks FD and Plankton, and everyone else who offered advice.
I have it sorted now. AFTER reinstalling Windows totally (you're right FD: it put all my original C drive files in a "Windows/old" directory: wish I'd known that before I backed up over 700 gig!) the problem persisted, unbelievably. I was ready to throw in the towel when my mate suggested removing the CMOS battery so everything would reset.
He was completely right. Once I took the battery out, left it out for a few minutes, reinserted and booted up again the problem was gone!
All that work for nothing, and now reinstallation of programs, links, themes etc. Gaaaahhhh!
At least now I know what to do if it happens again.
Thanks again guys!
TH
PS Plank, what do you mean by a USB hard drive? It is of course, but the power has to come from somewhere, which is what I was talking about with the adapter...
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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018
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