Many thanks for the suggestion - Here is the new error response.

If I start IE either with the original program or manually, then comment out the '->new' constructor in IeExisting like this:

    $self->{agent} = 
    Win32::OLE->GetActiveObject('InternetExplorer.Application')
    #|| Win32::OLE->new("InternetExplorer.Application")
    || die "Could not start Internet Explorer Application through OLE 
+$^E\n";
[download]

The response becomes:

Could not start Internet Explorer Application through OLE The requested lookup key was not found in any active activation context

If I don't comment it out it starts a new window with no error...

Hmmm...

IE version 7.0.5730.13 Build 75730