1. thanks Ian
2. yes, just don't use the forum images option, but instead use the forum DESCRIPTION and put something like:
<a href="http://www.someothersite.com/link/that/you/want/to/goto">
<img src="http://www.yoursite.com/banners/forum-sponsor-banner-whatever.gif"
alt="Click Here and visit somewhere nice!"
border="0" /></a>
for the description.
You can add 'style="float:left;"' to float it left to look like you have already or leave that out and it will appear _under_ the forum name/title
3. there is a very small window that allows files to be locked and wiped. it is _very_ small, but exists. i made a post to it a _long_ time ago with the solution. lock_and_write was the culprit.. i can look it up again..