The simple way to not waste people's time would be to not ask the question. As with so many things Tech the detail is tedious but unfortunately essential. Here's the Coles Notes version:
Links 2003 is successfully installed to a new computer running Windows 11. The Win 8 machine is still alive - allowing for side by side comparison of setup. When I set up the new box I obeyed Microsoft's oppressive edict to register with an email & created an Admin. level user id. Whatever Microsoft does in Settings and Control Panel with my Admin Acct, I was able to log in to LSPN this morning. I didn't choose to go into a tournament - I tend to play 'online' when I do - but I think it would have been fine. So what's the problem?
Mindful of Microsoft's prying eyes syndrome, I set up a local account with Admin rights so I don't feed them as much of my really very boring internet activity. For some reason(s), despite having an identical connection set up (as far as I can tell), when I try to connect to LSPN using my Local Account things look great initially, and then it just drops the attempt.
Any ideas on what the cause and the remedy might be? Is it not possible to have two user accounts on one computer and have them able to log on to the same site at different times? Wish I could say I'd found the solution, and would tell if I had. With thanks.