Lo all, I'm using a P3 450, and everything worked fine, up until one week ago. I had earned some "brownie points" from my wife and decided to upgrade my machine. I bought a maxtor 60gig HD, a LG CD/RW, 256mb ram and a lexmark X73 printer. I attempted to install of the above. I felt that I had done a reasonable job, until I attempted to do something on the machine. Playing winamp, running MS office, opening closing folders all run fine, but the minute I attempt running anything using any sort of power the machine stops and hangs, needing me to reboot. Even attempting to print a letter causes the PC to freeze. I have de-installed all the new equip without any resolution, ie with all the new hardware removed the machine still continues to stall. I even re-installed WIN ME with no success. Even a hint into the direction that I should be looking would be of assistance...... Yours frustratingly, Ian

If you tried to install more than 512Mb or memory (had more than 256Mb before adding) then there is a line in the System.ini in the [vcache] section that is needed. Add: [vcache] MaxFileCache=524,288 With this added, there is no reason you can not install the additional memory as it should not be causing any problems. But test the memory well. Go to DocMemory.com and down load their free memory test diskette, make one and use it to test your system memory. There could be a memory problem causing this. Check the size of \Windows\WIN386.SWP if it is over 500Mb you will have to delete it using a boot diskette and let windows build a new one. You could also try backing up to prior to the installs. Check System Tools - System Restore and see if there is still a restore checkpoint just before you started the additions. However, the re-install of ME should have wiped these out. If you re-installed Windows ME, you must go to the Microsoft UPDate site and re-install most of the updates again first. It sounds like a *VXD or device driver was added for one of the devices and is still there causing a problem. Go to the sites for the software and download their latest drivers for these devices (Lexmark.com for the printer, RIXIO.com or Nero.com for CD-RW software?) Also get AD-Aware 5.81 from Lavasoft.de and install it. You could have picked up some AD-ware or Spyware software. With the exception of trying to put in more that 512 memory with out the vcache line added, everything should have worked OK.

Thanks a lot for the advice......I'll work my way through your list.....and hopefully get some resolution