Hi, what I would do check init file (it is not dropped for example) is shutdown windows and turn off server for 5 minutes, maybe it is a hardware problem. and it culd help then turn on server start service connect as sys (don't forget to use correct init file) shutdown immediate start up nomount alter database mount alter database open This will helpme to find where is the problem. Juan Carlos Reyes Pacheco OCP -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l