Thanks Jean and Lane, your articulate advice proved decisive.
When i clicked on playmaker in the project list, it wasn't appearing in the main tab until i clicked one of the menu options themselves to make it refresh (in addition to deactivating the anti virus software). I am able to make the Playmaker window appear now, albeit as a floating window. Many thanks, and apologies for my 'colourful' gripes earlier.
May i suggest that this information is more readilly distributed for future people at point of purchase? It could avoid a lot of headaches for both hutong games and customers.