well, seems like turning off the auto restart on blue screen errors has prevented the shutdown. Now I just have to fix the part of the system that is causing the errors.
I need another drive anyway as this one is getting full of graphics design and art stuff. When I get it I will take you advice, thanks.
So is it now staying on the blue screen? If so the blue screen has valuable information that can point to the source of the problem - just write down all the information you see, especially the "number of error (parameter, parameter, parameter, parameter) name of error" part and then google for it on the internet.
After you've gone to the effort of doing a fresh install, you might want to consider backup/imaging. Such a program and routine can save you tons of time in the future and mostly isolate you from the kind of problem you're having now. Suggest Acronis True Image and Casper XP 4.0 as the class acts.
http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10401314.html?tag=lst-0-1 http://www.download.com/Spyware-Doctor/3000-8022_4-10651631.html http://www.download.com/Webroot-Spy-Sweeper-with-AntiVirus/3000-8022_4-10635526.html I hope you have backed all you files already. I remember one of my computers crashing after showing the same symptoms. Good luck@
I used several of these for a month - settled on Spybot S & D. If I used it 1st, none of the others found anything at all. If I used any of the others 1st, Spybot S & D typically found something that they missed. In addition, you need to have an auto-updating virus scanner. The days of being safe unless you open an email attachment are gone. If your computer is open to the internet & unprotected - you will get infected.
Please see my advice on Spyware scanning and removal at: http://www.hingefirescreen.com/spyware_advice.htm From your description of this situation so far, it seems more likely that you are having hardware issues with the motherboard, memory, or fans. Have you attempted to reseat all of the cards installed in your system? Have you run any PC diagnostic tools from third party companies like Norton? - Greg B.