Thanks Laurie.  I deleted the "decodes" files per your instructions, and the Fatal Error went away.  Just to clarify, my Decodes Window was populating just fine.  I got the Error when clicking on a CQ station to initiate a QSO.  I'll give the Beta a try.  The Audio Alerts are still getting their first half clipped off...even when testing the Alerts.  73 Herb WB8ASI