1. MC13 installed by disconnecting web, as suggested.
2. I dumped Windows Media Player early in the Dell decrapping/debugging phase (and want to keep it dumped), mainly because there was too much conflict between WMP and MC (I want MC to be the exclusive music player). If I ever buy Dell again, I will begin with a plain vanilla XP Pro. I have over 100 installed programs, too much time required to reinstall a clean OS and start from square one...
3. The "no dependencies" option sounds like a good idea for XP users with a less than sanitary install.