Hi,

Use unc32.exe (which is in the admin directory) to remove the client, then reinstall 4.8 without the service pack and see what happens. The registery sometimes gets corrupted and cause these types of problems.

UPGRADE TO SP8a ON THE SERVER (VERY IMPORTANT). Find it hard to believe your sysadmin hasn,t done so already, especially if he wants 24/7 availability.

Regards

P.S. Remove All MS clients and unused protocols, use custom install & don't install workstation manager etc. i.e. the client only. let us know what happens.