Thanks for all your help Ben, will have a play around with that later. New laptop is a Christmas present for the missus so have to work on it surreptitiously ATM.
One last question, sorry for being a bozo but am I correct in understanding that if I change my server settings to the .virginmedia.com ones the mail servers will still recognise my @ntlworld.com email and password?
Jim.
Quick edit, changed from .ntlworld.com to .virginmedia.com in my Windows Live Mail app and it timed out with error message. Will go back to .ntlworld.com and change the settings on the laptop to pop3 as soon as I get a chance.