Resolved
In the version of php that I'm using, the error appears when some field related to the site (for example site alias) contains apostrophe ( ' ) sign." When I named the site for the client I did, in fact, use an apostrophe. Removed the apostrophe and it works fine. ARRRRGH !!
Now if someone can explain why some of my templates are sized correctly when viewed in Firefox but are too wide when views in Explorer then I can get back to more productive work instead of spending all this time troubleshooting old websites.