Andrew I'm going to make a guess that you are probably using some form of Windows. The most likely common cause I can think of would be a shared dll that has become corrupted somehow. I believe your planned OS reinstall should clear your problem by replacing the dll. To be on the safe side I would install the programs one at a time and use them for a day or so before adding the next. That could help you find what is causing the dll problem. Hope this helps you. Ralph