Thanks, Chienworks. I tried to do that with Photoshop but it assumed some other crazy order and I wound with a bigger mess than before. I guess I will just have to go through the list and rename them manually as you have suggested.
Thanks for the reply....

Hi Kentm,
I have used this in PhotoShop, and it works for me. See if it is what you are trying to do. Let us know. Cin

Batch rename files using the File Browser's automated renaming option.

The batch renaming option of the File Browser lets you rename all the files in a folder at the same time. For example, you can quickly give meaningful names to an entire folder of images from a digital camera, converting names such as PIC003451.jpg to Graduation1.jpg. You construct the naming scheme using a series of text entry boxes as the building blocks. You can either add to their existing names or give them each a new name. You can append the date, sequentially number them, add letters in a series, or include a file extension.

If any of the files you want to rename are open, close them, otherwise the File Browser cannot rename them.
Choose File > Browse to open the File Browser.
In the File browser, locate the folder containing the photos you want to rename. Photoshop displays thumbnail versions of the images. All the files must be in the same folder. If not, use the browser to locate and move the files.
To arrange the files in a special order for sequential numbering, drag the thumbnail images to rearrange them. As you drag, a black band appears between the images or a blue box surrounds the thumbnail of a folder, indicating where the image will be inserted.
If you want to rename only some of the files in the folder, click the thumbnail of an image you want to rename. Ctrl-click (Windows) or Command-click (Mac OS) to select additional files.
Choose Automate > Batch Rename from the menu bar at the top of the File Browser window.
If you want the File Browser to move the files to a different folder after they are renamed, select Move to a New Folder in the Batch Rename dialog box. Then, click the Browse button, locate the folder, and click OK to return to the Batch Rename dialog box.
In the File Naming area, type text in the fields or choose options from the pop-up menus. The final file name is composed of the elements from each field. For example: "Document Name + 1 Digit Serial Number + mmddyy (date) + extension" appends a number and date to the name of each file in the folder, while "FISH + 1 Digit Serial Number + extension" renames the files to FISH, inserting a number between the name and extension. The example above the file naming fields reflects the choices you have made.
Change the starting serial number if desired, select the appropriate Compatibility option, and then click OK. The File Browser renames the files.

Thanks for the input but there is still a problem here. I have tried this in both PS 7 and PSE 4. In PS7, the problem is that when it opens the thumbnails, it orders them in basic alphabetic order. This will mean a lot of dragging to get the order I need. Do you know of a way to change the "sort by" order in the File Browser? I have searched the prefs etc. I have the files arranged in windows explorer by "date taken" but when PS opens this folder, it sorts using its own order. Unfortunately, when I look at the "Details" in "File Browser" it does not show "Date Picture Taken". Dragging the photos into the order I want them will take about as long as just renaming them manually.
Any other thoughts appreciated...
kentm

Hi Kentm,
I have PS version 8 CS2. When I open the PS browser, I go to the folder that contains my pictures, on the menu bar on the top of the browser I select 'sort' from the drop down menu, there are over a dozen methods to sort the folder including 'date created'. I hope that is what you are wanting to do. Let us know if this helps. Cin