Hijackthis is not used for Malware much at all anymore. Hijackthis only shows a few loading points that Malware use to use. Malware has become very difficult now to find out where it loads from and you need much more intensive scans, like DDS, OTL, scans, the worst malware now gets into the MBR (Master Boot Record) such as Zero Acess Root kit, TDSS & more. I have always used Hijackthis in the computer help forums, it provides for me a good overall view of the computer, shows all the start ups (04's) all the services (023's). Tells me the Anti Virus installed and it there are 2 running, will show conduit hijacker and a few more. It may show an infection but rarely anymore. Not used in the Malware Removal community at all. Your problem would have been difficult to diagnose especially with the black screen at boot, that usually indicates windows can't find the operating System or the Master Boot Record is flawed. What would have been nice is if you got the Error "Operating System Not Found" at boot time, then the first order of things is to check the CD Rom drive because Windows always looks there first, and asks "Do you have anything for Me" and the CD Rom say's "yes I have something boot it please" and off it goes and attempts to run anything there.

snidely - thx - I bet that's why sometimes when I roll my mouse around the screen zooms in and out - I never knew why. I bet my cntrl key gets stuck at times. i know a few others do. time for a new keyboard I know. My son told me that last wk when he visited from out of state. He just shook his head at my keyboard. It's also missing a key or 2... I took some off to clean under them and lost a few... my E has the F12 'key' on it. that one had a piece break off underneath it... yeah, guess I'd better do that yet this wk before I'm caught without any keys that work. thx - I will try that (on purpose). lol!

What is the computer model number? Consider seriously before taking it to a repair shop because today you'll likely buy a new computer for close to what you might well pay in repair charges. With the recovery CDs you can do this yourself. It is a simple task requiring very little user input other than agreeing to allow it to wipe the drive so you lose all your data - which the repair guy will do anyway so you may as well curse at yourself as curse at him/her. In fact it might just be a good idea to insert disk 1 of the Recovery set just to see if there is more action than you have now. You can always click Cancel or hit the power button to end the processs. Gene's idea of using a second monitor is great, that will eliminate one thing from the equation. With no beep it does sound as though the motherboard has quit. They made some eMachines a few years ago with defective power supplies which quit without warning. In many cases the power supply also took out the motherboard and replacements were not available. Those computer were instant garbage but I thought that was fixed before your machine was made. Take the left side off your computer and read odd the make and wattage of your power supply

Not sure about secretaries being sized to hold a desktop computer. A laptop yes, but not all the other stuff. I'd think you might find an armoire or an entertainment armoire which might simulate a secretary. Also, tansu style components can combine to give you the features you like.