RE: createInstanc problem

As you mention later, the problem is alsmost certainly:

> Could not import the Python XPCOM extension
> exceptions.ImportError: 
> /opt/spikesetup/install/firefox/lib/python2.4/site-packages/xpcom/
> _xpcom.so: undefined symbol: openpty

This sounds like a linker problem.  Is it possible that you are using a 
'static' build of Python?  pyxpcom requires a dynamic build...

Mark