Welcome to EpoS Wizard!
Sorry I only just noticed you are running 7 Starter. The Utility is only guarnteed to run using 7 Business so this may be the fundementle problem.
John - thank you for your reply. I should have posted that I have overcome the problem, although I am not sure exactly how.
I had already stopped and restarted the utility a few times and tried starting both with and without the serial/USB connected.
The following day, I tried just one more time ignoring the old adage that doing the same thing over and over expecting different results is the definition of insanity, and it started to work, and has given me no problems since.
So I apologise to anyone else who might have the same problem as I have no idea what made he difference, but thank you for taking the time to help.
computers..... doncha just love em?? 
