To begin, I already have a problem with my computer randomly crashing very often. Probably once every 3 hours. The computer has been reformatted several times but the problem still occurs. Recently, the computer crashed while Mcafee virus scan was open and after the reboot I was never able to start the program again. If I try to start mcafee, the program shows up in the process list in Task Manager but wont actually open. On top of that, it takes up 100% of my cpu and I can't end the process unless I log off or restart. To make matters worse, in the past 2 weeks, this has been a problem for other programs such as Outlook Express 6, Frontpage XP, and I can't even open up the "Add/Remove Programs" from the Control Panel. If anyone can explain this or help me with a solution, It'd be greatly appreciated.

you should get more RAM. XP uses all of, at least, 128 to run properly, and works better. Then you need more than that for running other programs. It slows things down if you have programs starting and running in the background during Startup. Also when you open programs, things are slower if they have to take RAM away from XP. You should have enough RAM (above 128) for each program you run at the same time.

The fact that it was "crashing every three hours" and that using some programs use so much of the systems resources leads me to think that you have a hardware conflict somewhere. When you open software, windows "anticipates" what hardware these programs may need to use and tries to ready them. If you have a hardware conflict, this can freeze or crash the system. Have you tried going into "safe mode" and see if the system crashes there? Also check you device manager in the hopes that you can see a hardware conflict there in a red X or yellow !. Just because you don't see anything in device manager dosen't mean there isn't a conflict. You can also try "clean booting" Windows and then see if the problem persists. If you need to know how to do this, post back. Good Luck! Musky Always assume pilot error!

I didn't notice how much RAM you have. Chuck is certainly right when he says that 128MB is not enough to run Windows XP well at all. I hope it's as easy as that for you :) Musky Always assume pilot error!

Ram can be an option... but is not certain... I also got 128mb and I run well Windows XP Pro on my P4 2,4 GHz, I can use windowblinds, and even 3ds Max 6!! just on 128 MB, and 64 Video Card... my point is that it can be a virus or a hardware conflict, ram is always the easiest answer for XP troubles...

Hey I have a slight disconnect no matter how less RAM you have system crashes mean more to me, they might slow down the system, the applications in question are not too memory intensive. The background applications might be an issue as well as bad memory DIMMS. I would recommend an MSCONFIG>Startup Tab>uncheck all the applications which you might have installed, avoid system applications>Services Tab>Check Hide all Microsoft Services>Uncheck all options.Click on Okay>Restart. Do a Burnin Test, in simple words leave your system powered up for 24 Hours, dont use the system, if it does not freeze or generate errors then the system is good to go. If it still gives errors, then it might indicate a bad memory module. V. Satya Ramachandran For more help : satya_ramachandran@adp.com Include problem link in mail

So I should restart the computer in safe mode and let it run for 24 hrs to see if it crashes. Is this what you call Clean Booting? I still dont understand why I can't open those programs anymore. I can't open Nero 6, Outlook Express 6, Frontpage XP, Mcafee Virus Scan, Add/Remove programs from the control panel. A few of these are very important programs for me. When I open any of them, nothin shows up...all I see is the program name in the Process List and I can't even end those processes.