Thanks for that hint Shivakumar!
I tried the usual things to get my install to work after a couple remove/re-installs. I then searched my entire PC and found another unzip.exe archived away somewhere. I renamed that one (which dated back to '98!) and then the install went thru to completion!
Holy cow!
This was too painful and will scare away too many who lack the tenacity to work through problems like this. Most of my students, for example, who might otherwise leave college looking to use the MSP430!
thanks again to Shivakumar for your post!
Mark