Richard:

You say "if there is no internet connection it can't do this." Since it DOES do both upload and download when I am connected to my cable provider but not "to the net through MSIE" am I then sort-of net-connected to some through my cable provider. I do have a network card.

And re phishhead's response, (he's gone now, right?) why would some site bother to send me a "here I am and here's my address" out of the blue WHEN I'M NOT EVEN AWARE I'm being contacted.

John