First of all, I am not using version 1.7. I did get to download a copy and install it, but couldn't get it to authorize my computer without "can't find the server" errors. As I said elsewhere, I was able to download and authorize a new copy of 2.01 using IE. For some reason, using Firefox to do the download resulted in an install of ADE that wouldn't authorize. However, a few days later the new install began giving me the "can't find server" errors again.
The "ADE won't launch automatically" problem stems from a change in behaviour at the online library when you try to download an e-book. Normally, when downloading from the library, I'd get a window asking which application you wanted and so forth. ADE was the default and the window said so. When you started the download, ADE would launch and the download would start with a progress bar and so forth. About half the time, now, the download window doesn't show ADE as the default--you have to select it yourself and after you do, instead of an ADE launch, the download goes to my computer instead.Sometimes as an ascm file sometimes as an epub. The epubs go to a folder on the computer from which you can then drag and drop into ADE.
There's more about this process that deserves exploring, but that's it in brief and I'm tired of the whole thing. ADE is a crippled creature and finding a way to circumvent its use is my life's ambition, at present. Thanks for taking the time answer.