In the past I've solved the problem of PC lock-up by reinstalling Windows ME. Is there an easie

It is a Compaq Presario. I've backed up, then had the local tech wipe the hard drive and reinstall ME twice now but it costs $$ every time I do this. One of the symptoms is that at first it locks up after being on for a while but the time period gets increasingly shorter and shorter. It varies a little but locks up sometimes within 30 seconds. Later it may go for 30 minutes.

I've cleaned up the cookies, history and temp files several times. I've uninstalled any program that I don't use, including AOL. I have antivirus software that updates every day. My kid uses Myspace a lot on it and the computer gets occasional toolbars I didn't ask for but my son may have, probably inadvertently. He has a habit of clicking before he reads.

Any idea what causes this? Is there a fix?

Thanks.

In the past I've solved the problem of PC lock-up by reinstalling Windows ME. Is there an easier way?viruses

when you said get toolbars well a lot of toolbars are spyware the chances are you get infected over and over again runs some ant-spyware programs you can get some good free ones here

spybot search and destroy http://www.safer-networking.org/en/downl...

and Ad-aware http://www.download.com/3000-2144-100459...

update them as you would an anti-virus and then run them.

ad-aware is probably a little easier to use than spybot