@Ilia thanks - it really did not like that, seemed to go ok then shut everything down,
after reboot i logged back in ok.
the error message has gone 
but it has not got rid of the problem.
the VM still thinks âProFTPD FTP Serverâ is there (it is listed in âServers Statusâ as not running and refuses to start)
access denied: user root is not allowed to use ProFTPd Server module
which is crazy access by root denied ! 
SUCCESS!
despite the previous outcome at least the checkbox untick worked.
then i could remove proftp from âfeatures and pluginsâ
and delete from âbootup and shutdownâ
a final reboot
and good to go again just in time for tomorrowâs backup
thanks once again for everyoneâs help 
Glad you got it fixed, but I would have just disabled the proftpd service(s) tather than deleting them, another customer on the same VM may ask for it
if they do i can advise them ânot to be âŠâ now i have a copy of that warning help on file and have experience of the trauma it creates.
the only person likely to ask will be new and have a good reason to justify it and i could always set up a new environment specifically for them.
but thanks anyway.
