Hi, problem solved thank you.
I uninstalled the latest version of code::blocks that I obtained using a google search (which led me to source forge and the version was 17.xx).
I then googled code:blocks normal wx28 installer, but didn't have any hits, but I assumed that the version was just an older version, maybe more suited/tested for compatibility with windows 7 ?
So I found this page
http://www.codeblocks.org/downloads/26 which contained variations of the ...16.... build of code blocks but near the bottom of the page was the advice
"if unsure, please use codeblocks-16.01mingw-setup.exe!"
On the right hand side was a link to the code either via Sourceforge.net or FossHub
On downloading and installing it now seems to be working.
Now to try it with some fortran code.
Thanks again.