many thanks,

my "guide history" is vague.
my hard disk is multi-partitioned:Guide is on disk E; disk c is
windows Me, disk D is Windows xp; the rest is for other things
Both win me and xp have been re-installed several times, but disk E
with guide was never changed, bar updates
i use guide from win me as well from win xp , with identical and
general very satisfying results

Neverthelees I tried alt-0 but no improvement.
the change to summertime made, not surprising, also no difference.
I tried also to set the computer to UT but i did not get any visible
solar eclipses

i am still in a quandary

george