I would suggest uninstalling AOL . Then you can reinstall from the AOL disk you have, just follow the instructions as a current member. All your setting, favorites, etc. will be there. I have had AOL9.1 for ages and have no problem. Actually I use Firefox, or IE for surfing. I can reach AOL using them, but find it easier to check my mail and use my old favorites from AOL. Since AOL is free it was just easier for me to keep it. Are you sure that the problem is AOL? Uninstalling it and the running your PC without it for a while should tell you if it is an AOL problem.

Thanks owbist for the browser suggestions. chemocurl, I did open both of the blogs that you posted. I even looked around a bit on both to see if my problem happened again. (Loved both of them, too, since I love to garden.) Neither made my computer shut down. Not sure if I didn't 'visit' them long enough or not for it to happen. No, I don't have anything on blogspot myself. We haven't noticed the 'shut downs' happening with anything else. Do you have any suggestions as to what may be causing this? Thanks for your help!

right you can only have one antivirus program on the pc at one time, you can have multiples of the malware programs that you run the scans manually with they are not running all the time so would not conflict. here are my instructions (I now just keep them in a document) McAfee removal directions these are the full directions for Mcafee removal, I used this exact procedure and it went well and have since shared it with others for their removal. be sure you use the mcafee removal tool after you have removed it from add remove programs or much will be left behind. First turn off Mcafee at the icon in the systray. I had to go into msconfig and turn off all mcafee items from startup prior to trying to uninstall, just turning them off did not work it would say the program was still running. So if you run into this when going to add remove programs try doing that. I then removed everything using add remove programs, leaving Security center till last. Then used the removal tool, after that I went to Program Files and deleted all mcafee files. Also set Windows explorer to show all hidden files and folders and deleted the mcafee folders. I found these instructions on how to do this on the mcafee forums. 1. Uninstall all mcafee programs through "Add or Remove Programs" in Windows "Control Panel". 2. Use the MCPR tool, see this article: How to remove supported mcafee consumer products using the mcafee Consumer Products removal tool (MCPR.exe). This will remove all mcafee remnants from your computer. (you must have Windows Vista, XP or 2000 SP4 to use this tool) 3. Launch Windows Explorer and delete all mcafee files in "Program Files" but especially in "C:\Document and Settings\\Application Data" and "C:\Document and Settings\All Users\Application Data". You have to set Windows Explorer to show all hidden files and folders (Tools > Folder Options > View tab). Just delete the mcafee folders even if they are empty in all the "Application Data" folders. Can be more than one! In Vista: C:\Program Files, C:\ProgramData and C:\Users\yourname\AppData\Roaming Removal tool (MCPR.exe) http://download.mcafee.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/MCPR.exe or from here McAfee Consumer Product Removal Tool 3.0.128.8

Eviem I understand you reluctance to get inside your computer case but this is nothing more than simple maintenance. Shut down and remove the power cord from the rear. Look at the rear of your tower on the left side, there should be 2 screws or a proprietary gadget holding the left side on. Remove those screws, slide the left side panel back and off. Now have a look. Half the job is already done now. Look in at the bigger board fasten to the right side and you will see a fan raised off the motherboard. Look between the blades to see if it is filled with dust. If so place a finger on the fan and squirt your compressed air can liberally around the fan and underneath. Put the side back on, connect the power cord and start the computer and you are done apart from putting the can of air away. Simple huh? Why spend $60 and up for a less than 5 minute job.