Have latest version of Joomla
latest version of SMF
v 1.0.11 of the bridge
install of the first bridge component com_smf_2_0 went fine
<Patch Joomla source files>  does not work

Have uninstalled and reinstalled it a few times because the first time, Joomla became unstable and kicked me, so i had to relog.  then couldn't access the install screen again, so just uninstalled, and re:in.

Perhaps something has corrupted? Should I reinstall SMF again? Reinstall the bridge component? Sleep on it til some of the moons of jupiter realign?

My thanks in advance!