(follow up)
This afternoon I rebuilt the newly rebuilt server;~/
Made sure to install PHPmyAdmin very early to confirm PHP was sound. Have done all this before attempting the u2 and u4 SME updaters and, particularly, before even considering any updating of PHP (by any method).
As of this minute I have *content* on my ACID page display. Doesn't mean much to me at the moment but I have no doubt I will learn soon enough:-)
best wishes, Robert