In case anybody is actually following this thread, or having the same problems. I decided to use some of the tools posted here:

http://www.internettablettalk.com/fo...ad.php?t=14925

This whole thing has been a big learning curve for me.

Well, I noticed that winmapper wasn't downloding any tiles at hime (empty folders), and only downloaded 5mb at my work computer. Then, once again emtpy folders.

Well.. my continual research led me to browsing google satellite. I'm blocked there too, I assume by my use of winmapper!!!
Who knew, I must really be in google's bad books.