That should have read "... get rather expensive since, for example, most
shops ..."

The problem with do-it-yourself fixes when you aren't sure what you are
doing is that the best test is "by-substitution", that is, replace each
component one at a time until you find the broken one. A shop has extra
RAM, power supplies, etc. sitting about so they can do this cheaply, but
you'd need to purchase the components and then hope you could return the
ones you didn't need.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User]
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Richard G. Harper" wrote in message
...
If you have to ask, the best answer is "Take it to a shop and have it
professionally diagnosed and repaired". Unless you're pretty good at
computer repairs the do-it-yourself route can get rather expensive since
most shops won't take back the RAM you bought to test by substitution.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User]
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Bonnie Jean" wrote in message
...
Thanks Richard. Is there a way the problem can be diagnosed? Isolated?

Bonnie

"Richard G. Harper" wrote in message
...
Random freeze-ups are usually caused by a hardware problem - bad memory,
bad
power supply, or a failing or failed cooling fan somewhere in the system
are
the most common causes.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User]
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Bonnie Jean" wrote in message
...
I have: Win ME, use Foxfire, no viruses (PCcillin), no spyware (AdawareSE
and SpyBot), recently deleted internet temp files and ran scan disc and
defrag.

For a couple of weeks, my computer has been locking up. It doesn't seem
to
be application specific. I can't even esc or ctrl alt del---have to
manually
turn power off CPU and reboot.

I never have gotten an error message.

The latest thing I downloaded was TurboTax---which by the way is a piece
of
crap. I uninstalled it. And I recently downloaded "Registry Mechanic."

Any ideas?

Bonnie in NJ