My computer hangs in each the last 3 attempts to format and reload XP.

[wumply]

Hi Phish, Conan, Eghead and EFC...and anyone else who has happened to read this thread!!! (Conan, I've a question for you in this email.)

It is April 22 and I am back online after a week off it. I thank you all for your input. A note: Being without a computer is H___!!!!!!!!!!!!! Enough to make me thinking about having an inexpensive spare or perhaps used one--I'd need only the tower.

Zipp 51: appreciated your kind words and your welcoming my son. Made me feel good.

Conan: When you asked for complete specs, were those specs you listed in blue (which my son failed to mention or forward to me via a friend's computer) an example of what you wanted...or what? If not, what exact specs were you suggesting I supply?

Phish...I started off with your ideas because you were at the top of the various answers and pretty specific. But they did not work. My computer still hung on each of 3 tries when it got through the first 30 minutes or so of the Windows setup (afer the format.)

At this point--4 full days had passed--I gave up, bit the bullet and took it to a repair place. His diagnosis was either a damagaed CPU or a damaged motherboard. After he checked further (by trying a new mobo and a new CPU), he determined the motherboard needed to be replaced. It was: it cost $90 and labor was $60 (an hour and a half). So now I have 4 UPC ports whereas before I was using a hub. (I have 1 firewire in my sound card.) Still have lots of programs to reload.

Cheers...wumply.

[Conan]

Conan: When you asked for complete specs, were those specs you listed in blue (which my son failed to mention or forward to me via a friend's computer) an example of what you wanted...or what? If not, what exact specs were you suggesting I supply?

Glad you were able to make it back Wumply! My specs in blue are listed for informational purposes. I did not expect something as concise but a general listing of processor, motherboard and memory type/amount.