Some more general Windows troubleshooting tips: 1. Buy a copy of RegistryMechanic (Google for it) and run it whenever programs fail, or every month. Bad installs/uninstalls and program crashes often damage the registry (the huge OS database which keeps track of all settings of all software and hardware (except the motherboard's built-in BIOS). 2. I thought the virtual memory was to be set to a max of 1.5X actual menory chip size, not 2.5X? Check this and learn a lot by always searching Microsoft's Knowledgebase when you have problems or error messages. From their main page, click on "Support" in the left column, then on the next page, click on "KB" (oe is it "KnowledgeBase"?) on the horizontal bar across the top. 3. It is correct that Windows needs a MINIMUM of 20% to 25% of your hard drive (or current partition) to be free for it's own use - but you have that covered. 4. Modern Windows PC's run very hot, so i would not be without a temp/voltage monitor running all the time. I use Intel motherboards and always install the "Intel Active Monitor", plus 1-2 extra fans. If your programs run fine at startup, but get flakey after a few minutes, suspect overheated memory an/or glue chips and/or processor. 5. Yes, be very careful about installs/uninstalls that might have gone bad. If you suspect that, discover where all the parts of the program are (many may be in C:documents and settingsusername (since Windows XP is a multi-user OS, stuff for different users must be kept separate and that is where they do that). First do the WIndows Add/Remove programs, then manually delete all program folders for the program you are uninstalling, then run RegistryMechanic to clean out any left over garbage from the Registry. After all that, a new install should REALLY BE a new install. 6. Always run the latest driver for your gaphics card (unless you can prove it's buggy, then fall back to the next to latest. 7. Always run the latest version of Microsoft Direct-X. That's about all that i can think of at the moment - by the way, i've been a PC consultant for 20 years and fix stuff like this all the time. Though i mostly do web work these days.