My mouse sometimes powers down after it has been on for a length of time. After the mouse goes the keyboard usually goes as well. The caps lock button still works so there is power in the keyboard but it does nothing on the monitor. Unplugging does nothing to both the mouse and keyboard. when I restart they will then work fine again. This problem is only recent. What could be causing it?

Try to determine if it is a heat or driver issue. Then try a different keyboard and/or mouse. If you download and install Aida32 it will give you a read out of what your motherboard and CPU temps are. Do a search for it on Google.com
Good Luck.

Several thousand different software problems. Your system software is basically hanging. Normally it is some application you are running in the background. Could be Spyware, Adware, Virus (thousands of these), Trojans, Worms, Windows Updates. Endless list.

Start by working through Windows ME Fixes and see if anything help.

Get and install WinTop. Open it on the desktop so you can see all processes that are running. Then wait for the system to hang. See if WinTop continues to run and show one of the processes taking up the processor. Might give you a clue as to what is going on.

If all else fails, print out and try to use MS Q273746 - How to Troubleshoot Windows ME Shutdown Problems