Ahh, desk-job and office-job survival skillz...! I remember the day...nah, never worked a day in my life! I would never use #3, but I could get away with 5, 2 or 1. The following might apply to some guys with the "office at home:" > A HUSBAND IS AT HOME WATCHING A FOOTBALL GAME WHEN HIS WIFE INTERRUPTS, "HONEY, COULD YOU FIX THE LIGHT IN THE HALLWAY? IT'S BEEN FLICKERING FOR WEEKS NOW." > >HE LOOK AT HER AND SAYS ANGRILY, "FIX THE LIGHTS NOW? DOES IT LOOK LIKE I HAVE GE WRITTEN ON MY FOREHEAD? I DON'T THINK SO." > >"FINE," THEN THE WIFE ASKS, "WELL THEN, COULD YOU FIX THE FRIDGE DOOR? IT WON'T CLOSE RIGHT." > >TO WHICH HE REPLIED, "FIX THE FRIDGE DOOR?" "DOES IT LOOK LIKE I HAVE WESTINGHOUSE WRITTEN ON MY FOREHEAD? I DON'T THINK SO." > >"FINE," SHE SAYS, "THEN YOU COULD AT LEAST FIX THE STEPS TO THE FRONT DOOR? THEY ARE ABOUT TO BREAK." > >"I'M NOT A DA_N CARPENTER AND I DON'T WANT TO FIX STEPS." HE SAYS, "DOES IT LOOK LIKE I HAVE ACE HARDWARE WRITTEN ON MY FOREHEAD? I DON'T THINK SO. I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF YOU. I'M GOING TO THE BAR !!!!" > >SO HE GOES TO THE BAR AND DRINKS FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS.................................... HE STARTS TO FEEL GUILTY ABOUT HOW HE TREATED HIS WIFE, AND DECIDES TO GO HOME. AS HE WALKS INTO THE HOUSE HE NOTICES THAT THE STEPS ARE ALREADY FIXED. AS HE ENTERS THE HOUSE, HE SEES THE HALL LIGHT IS WORKING. AS HE GOES TO GET A BEER, HE NOTICES THE FRIDGE DOOR IS FIXED. > >"HONEY," HE ASKS, "HOW'D ALL THIS GET FIXED?" > >SHE SAID, "WELL, WHEN YOU LEFT I SAT OUTSIDE AND CRIED. JUST THEN A NICE YOUNG MAN ASKED ME, "WHAT'S WRONG?" I TOLD HIM. HE OFFERED TO DO ALL THE REPAIRS, AND ALL I HAD TO DO WAS EITHER GO TO BED WITH HIM OR BAKE A CAKE." > >HE SAID, "SO WHAT KIND OF CAKE DID YOU BAKE?" > >SHE REPLIED, "HELLOOOOO....DO YOU SEE BETTY CROCKER WRITTEN ON MY FOREHEAD? I DON'T THINK SO!"

Here it is Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2 Scan saved at 11:11:12 PM, on 4/7/2011 Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600) MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.18702) Boot mode: Normal Running processes: C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\AvastSvc.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe C:\Program Files\NETGEAR\WNDA3100v2\WifiSvc.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\Core\smax4pnp.exe C:\Program Files\CyberLink\PowerDVD DX\PDVDDXSrv.exe C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\MOM.exe C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\avastUI.exe C:\Program Files\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\ccc.exe C:\Program Files\NETGEAR\WNDA3100v2\WNDA3100v2.exe C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\plugin-container.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\notepad.exe C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.bing.com/ R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157 R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896 R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896 R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157 R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local O2 - BHO: HP Print Enhancer - "0347C33E-8762-4905-BF09-768834316C61> - C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\Smart Web Printing\hpswp_printenhancer.dll O2 - BHO: WormRadar.com IESiteBlocker.NavFilter - "3CA2F312-6F6E-4B53-A66E-4E65E497C8C0> - (no file) O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - "DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9> - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll O2 - BHO: JQSIEStartDetectorImpl - "E7E6F031-17CE-4C07-BC86-EABFE594F69C> - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\deploy\jqs\ie\jqs_plugin.dll O2 - BHO: HP Smart BHO Class - "FFFFFFFF-CF4E-4F2B-BDC2-0E72E116A856> - C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\Smart Web Printing\hpswp_BHO.dll O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [StartCCC] "C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static\CLIStart.exe" MSRun O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SoundMAXPnP] C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\Core\smax4pnp.exe O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PDVDDXSrv] "C:\Program Files\CyberLink\PowerDVD DX\PDVDDXSrv.exe" O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ZoneAlarm Client] "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe" O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avast5] "C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\avastUI.exe" /nogui O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Software Update] C:\Program Files\HP\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe" O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe" O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [PxDotNetLoader] "C:\Program Files\Fidelity Investments\Fidelity Active Trader\System\ATPStartupAssistant.exe" O4 - Startup: Dropbox.lnk = C:\Documents and Settings\Jane\Application Data\Dropbox\bin\Dropbox.exe O4 - Global Startup: HP Digital Imaging Monitor.lnk = C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\bin\hpqtra08.exe O4 - Global Startup: NETGEAR WNDA3100v2 Smart Wizard.lnk = ? O8 - Extra context menu item: Add to Google Photos Screensa&ver - res://C:\WINDOWS\system32\GPhotos.scr/200 O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000 O9 - Extra button: Research - "92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263> - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\Office12\REFIEBAR.DLL O9 - Extra button: Show or hide HP Smart Web Printing - "DDE87865-83C5-48c4-8357-2F5B1AA84522> - C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\Smart Web Printing\hpswp_BHO.dll O9 - Extra button: (no name) - "e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583> - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - "e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583> - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe O9 - Extra button: Messenger - "FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683> - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - "FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683> - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe O16 - DPF: "6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C> (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1288669287289 O16 - DPF: "E2883E8F-472F-4FB0-9522-AC9BF37916A7> (get_atlcom Class) - http://platformdl.adobe.com/NOS/getPlusPlus/1.6/gp.cab O18 - Protocol: intu-help-qb1 - "9B0F96C7-2E4B-433E-ABF3-043BA1B54AE3> - C:\Program Files\Intuit\QuickBooks 2008\HelpAsyncPluggableProtocol.dll O18 - Protocol: qbwc - "FC598A64-626C-4447-85B8-53150405FD57> - mscoree.dll (file missing) O20 - Winlogon Notify: !SASWinLogon - C:\Program Files\SUPERAntiSpyware\SASWINLO.DLL O20 - Winlogon Notify: GoToAssist - C:\Program Files\Citrix\GoToAssist\514\G2AWinLogon.dll O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe O23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2sgag.exe O23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - AVAST Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\AvastSvc.exe O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe O23 - Service: GoToAssist - Citrix Online, a division of Citrix Systems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Citrix\GoToAssist\514\g2aservice.exe O23 - Service: Google Updater Service (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe O23 - Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Sun Microsystems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe O23 - Service: QBCFMonitorService - Intuit - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intuit\QuickBooks\QBCFMonitorService.exe O23 - Service: Intuit QuickBooks FCS (QBFCService) - Intuit Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Intuit\QuickBooks\FCS\Intuit.QuickBooks.FCS.exe O23 - Service: QuickBooksDB18 - iAnywhere Solutions, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\Intuit\QUICKB~1\QBDBMgrN.exe O23 - Service: stllssvr - MicroVision Development, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\SureThing Shared\stllssvr.exe O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor (vsmon) - Check Point Software Technologies LTD - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe O23 - Service: WSWNDA3100 - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\NETGEAR\WNDA3100v2\WifiSvc.exe -- End of file - 7507 bytes I notice a lot of Internet Explorer. I never use it. Only Firefox. I rarely use MS OFfice as it doesn't work right. I was surprised to see something about Excel. I have Messenger disabled in Services. This computer is wireless using a Netgear wireless adapter. Thanks, Jane

Hi, Jane. The computer seems to be working great. It's noticeably faster. I don't think that the mouse and keyboard not working was bc. of the RAM. One possibility is that I had put the USB devices back in any USB port - which I thought should be no problem - but may have been. maybe it was especially too much since there were 3 USB devices in new ports. The other possibility is that in getting rid of the dust bunnies - blowing the dust out with compressed air, that I got a bit of dust on the power supply plug/port. I'm not sure - but one place I googled (perhaps a cnet forum?) reported the keyboard and mouse not working bc. dust got into that area. They had unplugged the power cord - cleaned out any dust - and tried again. I did both. Unplugged the power cord and dusted the area again - and replugged the USB devices into the right ports. I also started by just plugging in the keyboard and mouse. Once I was up and running, I plugged the microphone back in. So I don't know what caused the temporary disabling of mouse and keyboard - but I"m pretty sure it wasn't too much RAM - just something I did when I was messing with the innards or replugging devices back in. All seems to be great now. I put it off forever too. I'm pretty sure that I went to Crucial's website (on the computer I wanted to upgrade) and let it scan the computer to determine how much RAM (and what type) it could use. If you haven't already tried that, I'd give it a whirl. Here's the link: http://www.crucial.com/systemscanner/ Let us know what you decide and how it goes. Good luck. Lynn.

As ravencajun said it's important to answer questions because it makes troubleshooting easier. Based on what you describe - the same problem with two different operating systems that doesn't happen in safe mode with either O/S I'm inclined to think there's a conflict at the hardware level. If you've been around since 8088 days, you remember IRQs and maybe manually adjusting those? - If you are using a PS/2 (round connector, typically green and purple) make sure you have the plugged into the right place. We all make mistakes. - If you are using a USB connection (small rectangular connector), try a different USB port. If you are using any kind of USB hub, make sure the mouse/keyboard is plugged directly into the machine. If you have a USB add-on card, plug the mouse/keyboard cable(s) into a onboard (motherboard) port. Just for grins you can try the opposite too to rule out any port problems. - Check with the manufacturer of the motherboard or computer for an updated BIOS or chipset drivers - If you have any add-on peripheral cards (network, sound, video capture, etc.) trying removing them temporarily or moving them to another slot. - Borrow or buy another mouse/keyboard, preferably one that is wired. While most mass merchants (Best Buy, etc.) get a little expensive for that kind of stuff, computer stores (Micro Center, etc.) usually have really cheap mice/keyboards sitting on the bottom shelf somewhere. You can also try a Mom 'n Pop computer store, they typically have used stuff cheap.