Brad,

I think I have solved the problem.

Since I also had the final beta for .NET 2003 installed I though about cleaning up everything. It would not uninstall - giving an error stating that the windows installer failed.

A post on the Windows Installer newsgroup for a vaguely similar problem suggested damaging the InstallShield directory and reinstalling the "isscript.msi". I found the file in the VFP8 INSTALLSHIELD directory and the lights when on. I then noticed that the association for ".msi" wasn't there.

*** I then installed the Foxpro Limited Express from the vfp8 package on a hunch and lo and behold I could now uninstall VFP8BETA.

However, I am very uncomfortable at having invoked magic :{
(even if it worked). Do you have any clue what might have broken and have I really fixed the system? Or am I just walking the plank further over the abyss.

thanks for all your help so far,
Ted M Cooper