Mike: Your system & application event logs under control panel > administrative options might prove helpful in terms of any errors u might be getting. They're a valuable diagnostic tool. Also, in cases like this, where the machine is aging, I've seen bad bios batteries cause some weird behaviors, including desktop redraws, etc. I've also seen malware cause it. 1 thing u might do (& it's boring, I know), is to watch the screen as it's booting for errors. Hit your pause key to read any errors which might occur so they don't scroll off the screen--hit enter when you're done. -- Change the world--1 deed at a time Jackie McBride www.abletec.serverheaven.net Please join me Saturday, 11/7, on my walk against breast cancer by making a donation at: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/larkspur>