This problem started the last 2 days: the first time there was a blue screen saying that windows detected a serious problem, check memory and hardware configuration ... (although no new hardware was added, one day prior, I uninstalled Adobe Acrobat reader 5.1, and installed Acrobat reader 6, but was still working afterwards). Then it rebooted and said there was a problem with the synaptic touchpad driver (which I downloaded an updated one, and installed). Then it started crashing irratically, sometimes freeze (Alt+Ctrl+Del won't work) and I have to turn off and turn on. Sometimes the screen goes blank (and have to turn off and on). Sometimes it won't start, and have to remove battery and AC, press the power button for 15 sec, and reconnect power, but it's still crashing between 10 to 30 min after turning on (sometimes with a blue screen, and sometimes just blank out). I tried re-installing with the recovery disc, but it is still crashing after a successful re-installation. I talked with the Dell technical support and they think the motherboard is broken (I don't think I have dropped or banged it in any way). Warranty just expired 3 months ago, and to replace the motherboard costs about 50% of a new computer. I need to know if it is really the motherboard problem before I spend money on new hardward/ or computer. Any other way to test it? Help.

Looks like a memory problem. Download and run memtest.

on 3 occasions when I have had these type of problems on 2 different pcs, it is either the video card or memory. check your memory using memtest86 and/or replace your video card, borrow one if you can to try it. Al