Thanks, Sgt,

I really appreciate the understanding and the offer of forum thoughts on my computer issues:

I know just enough about computers to be dangerous, but that's about all.

I'm running Win XP Home on a two year old eMachine that's been really trouble free until just recently when I got into LimeWire and started doing a lot of downloading.

It isn't the LimeWire downloads causing the issues, it's my downloading bigger and (I hope) better DVD burning programs. I started with Roxio (came with my Plextor 708A DVD burner) and just downloaded Nero StartSmart Pro (I wanted to see if I could burn some DVDs that would work on my player, not just on my computer.) Since my machine has only a 2800 AMD processor and 512 mbs RAM, I may be pushing it.

Symptoms started out awhile ago, though, as error messages when trying to get into Control Panel (about a missing dll, which I copied from a working XP Home at my job and replaced on my system--it worked once, then whatever is going on corrupted the new dll,) but it would eventually open, if I did a right click on Start, then went to Explore. Now it errors out with Windows help or any help file that relies on Windows. And locks up far too often.

Last night, I was almost certain I had a virus, because the system was locked up tight, the cpu running at 100% and my Norton Internet Security nowhere to be seen. I had to hard boot again (twice in one day.) I ran the antivirus, and my Ad-aware Pro. Norton found nothing, Lavasoft found nine fairly minor files stashed on my system. (Every time I hit different sites on the internet I pick up little bugs of some sort. Really ticks me off.
But don't get me started on that. I'm too long winded with this reply as it is.

Right this minute, my computer is behaving itself (since I'm not asking it to do anything beyond this reply and 8 LimeWire folks uploading movies.) I have a three year carry-in warantee at the store I got my machine from. I need to take it in--like last week--but it's like leaving my right arm at the doctor's to get it fixed. Know what I mean? I fear the real answer to my problems is a bigger, faster computer, which is not in the budget at this time.

Whew, I am really a chatterbox. It's 2 a.m. and I have to start thinking about getting ready for work, got an early shift, so you are all saved from my confusing and over-explained issue.

Thanks again, and again "Sorry" to all those who get booted off when I hard boot the system.

PS Would more DRAM/RAM help my issue? Say a gig more?