OS Crash

[Dan]

Hello all,

I hope you can help me out. I'm running Windows XP on a
Compaq Presario..900Mhz, 384 RAM, 20 GB HD (running low ~
2 GB left).

My Problem: The past few weeks the OS has been freezing
and crashing more than usual. Programs don't function
properly. (My girlfriend types a paper in Microsoft Word
and tries to save and it won't save, then crashes--My
Dreamweaver won't allow me to add another client (add FTP
info etc..and then freezes). The general usage of the OS
will just freeze or crash. I don't know if it get hit by
a few too many power surges...if I have a virus (I have a
virus program and I get virus emails every once in a
while, but it gets caught at the email server and doesn't
come to my computer)..or what.

Would re-installing XP help or is it a hardware problem?
Or if you have any other suggestions, that would be great.

Thanks!

Dan

 

[Papa]

Hi Dan:

I don't think doing a re-install of your OS is the answer. However, you
might consider the following if you are not doing it now:

1. Install, keep updated, and run an anti-virus program.
2. Install, keep updated, and run an anti-spyware program.
3. Install, keep updated, and run a firewall program.
4. Never use your real email address in newsgroup posts.

I use AVG 6.0 from Grisoft as my anti-virus program, Ad-Aware from Lavasoft
as my anti-spyware program, and my router for the built-in firewall. There
are free, downloadable versions for AVG and Ad-Aware. Many people also (in
conjunction with Ad-Aware) use Spybot Search and Destroy for anti-spyware -
because what Ad-Aware might miss, Spybot will probably catch.