I have loaded and unloaded version 4.5-5.0 trying to get a version of the BB Desktop manager to work under XP x64... the Desktop manager launches but there are no icons under the words "Main Menu". I have let this sit for hours without any changes...

I have attached a screen shot of the Desktop Manager....

(My BB is recognized by the Blackberry device manager...)

Thanks...

Is your computer connected to the internet when this happens?

yes, it is connected to the internet at both work and home...
what are you thinking?

Maybe you have some security software blocking it? I don't know what to tell you, but maybe if you search here for XP 64 bit something will turn up. There have been a few threads here about problems with DM on 64 bit machines.