The instance of explorer that manages the desktop [Windows XP Home] locks up after an apparent random period of time. The desktop looks fine, but the TaskBar is unresponsive, Start button does not function, and often the desktop icons are dead as well. The only workaround I have found is opening task manager, killing off "explorer", which also kills off instances of IE, and then starting it again from the Run menu of task manager. This "fixes" the problem for a random period of time, best measured in minutes, when it will lock up again, at which point the aforementioned procedure gives me a working desktop again, and again, and again. There is no apparent relationship between this failure and the programs I am running as it will lock up no matter what I am doing. I suspect that I will have to reinstall Windows XP. Are there any instructions on this process or do I just "upgrade" from the distribution CD? Thanks

Try this: START>All Programs>Accessories> Start a CommandPrompt, and type this in there: sfc /scannow [press ENTER] System File Checker will then examine the systemfiles and replace them with an original copy if needed. You'll need your XP CD in case it wants to replace a file. If it doesn't help, and you have all your data backed up, and the XP CD, then a clean install is your easiest way to solving this. For a Windows Install guide, have a look at this site: Black Viper. It also has screenshots, so you'll know what it looks like. Make sure you boot off the XP CD when installing. That will prevent many possible conflicts arising. The Black Viper guide should explain or link to the necessary steps. These are preliminary steps: (I think they're also in the guide, but just to make sure) ▫ Make sure the CD Drive is set as a boot-device before the HardDisk, in the BIOS. ▫ Stick in the XP CD, restart the computer. It will ask "press any key if you want to boot of a CD". This message may be on screen very shortly, so keep tapping the spacebar as you restart. ▫ The computer will then boot off the CD, and the Setup pages will come up. Check the Black Viper guide for details... ___________________________________________ ☺ [Belgium, GMT+1]_________________________svg