Many-To-Many Through A Single Sub-form

Ok, as the title suggests I'm having some trouble making a many to many relationship work using a single sub-form. This is really more of a lookup/combo box question if you think about it.

Here is the situation: I have three tables, ComputerPrinter, ComputerComponent, Components

ComputerComponent is actually a joining table between ComputerPrinter and Components, with some extra fields which differentiate a specific instance of a component.

It also has it's own autonumber primary key as one ComputerPrinter can have more then one of the same component (i.e. my boss has two of the same monitors). Its foriegn key to the Components table is a lookup to the ComponentDesc(Component Description) field. (I know a Lookup in a table? He's a witch!, burn him! )

I have a query that Joins the ComputerPrinter table to the ComputerComponent table, and that is the basis of my sub-form (the main form is bound to ComputerPrinter).

This all works, you can select any ComponentDesc and it will add that component to ComputerComponents, thus a many-to-many done through one sub-form (albeit limited). The problem comes in that I do not want the user to add just any possible component, but rather only components that are not in use (i.e. have no computer or printer attached to them). I have a query that gets these components, but when I change the row source of the combo box to just those that are not in use, all the components that are attached to the computer (or printer) that is currently selected on the main form, and that do not have an instance that is not in use (there is no spares in the inventory) disapear!.

This is obviously due to the NotInList property, so by making the bound column the first, and changing it's width to .1 inch, I though that it might work... instead I get just the componentID's (the primary key of the Components field) and the text column (despite have a width of 1") doesn't show up at all (although the drop down shows the text of the not in use components). No luck

Is there a way to show all the component descriptions of the current computer/printer and yet limit the drop down to only those that are not in use? (in a continous form without messing up the other entries that is)

If anyone at least knows if it's possible, I would appreciate the post.

-mwalts