Well spoke a bit too soon - now have some other issues...

got the updates though so that part is fine.
installed my paid version of Zone Alarm Internet Security {couldn't put it on until the updates were installed}
and installed Threatfire
same programs I had before all this mess up happened -when the system was working fine.

For some reason the computer hangs/bogs down when switching between profiles
and sometimes at the profile log in screen it won't let you select a user icon..

so we have to use the restart button at that point.

Oh well another puzzle...to figure out