found the answer five minutes after posting the question. Isn't that always the way?
I had not granted the Apache user permission to launch IE. To do so: * launch DCOMCNFG.exe * choose "internet explorer" and click "properties" * choose the "security" tab and and "custom launch permissions" * "edit permissions", then "add" * choose "Users", then click "show users" * choose the "apache" user and click "add" * "OK" your way out of there. -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
