one problem with that - when i delete the lot (reloaded and refreshed) and remove the merge's from the registry then reinstall a plain unmodded (vanilla) copy of SWRebellion then i CAN skip the briefings every time so i can honestly report that, on this sytem at least, it is not a bug with XP drivers, it is something to do with the executables NOW THEN when i remove the Refreshed EXE and replace it with the Original REBEXE.exe then the refreshed_copy of rebellion skips the briefings when i remove the Reloaded EXE and replace it with the Original REBEXE.exe then the reloaded_copy of rebellion skips the briefings If I simply rename Either the Reloaded or Refreshed EXE's to rebexe.exe then I cannot skip the briefings. sadly this indicates it IS something to do with the copies of the EXE's that I have here, were multiple versions released perhaps??