Thanks for the excellent analysis.  The machine locked up again, now in 
a stock configuration with an LCD display. It hung with the floppy read 
light steady on but not reading the floppy.
 I had flashed the BIOS earlier, but thought I'd do it again. Wrong! It 
locked up during the flash process so now it won't do anything.  HDD 
read light comes on for awhile, but won't read the floppy or CD.Looks to 
me like it really is toast. But still don't know where the "locked" 
problem comes from.
In answer to your suggestions:
Didn't get to turn off IR in BIOS because of above.  Don't think there's 
an IR receiver on it anyway. The location where it first started failing 
is only a few feet from the workbench. Yes there is a wireless router 
nearby.
Didn't have the wireless mouse connected during this last activity.
Did have an LCD monitor connected when it last failed.
Did replace the battery before flashing (and trashing) the BIOS.


Thomas Mayer wrote:
> Very interesting. Let's step back and see what we know. The computer 
> works at one location using a wired mouse and a CRT monitor. When 
> moved to another location and using an LCD monitor and a wireless 
> mouse, the computer hangs at various places in the load process.
>
> In order of likely sources of the problem:
>
> Location - If the computer has infrared capability, turn it off in the 
> BIOS. Are there devices near the problem location that could be 
> interfering with the wireless mouse receiver? Cordless phone? 
> Microwave oven? Wireless router?
>
> Wireless Mouse - See preceding. Also, try computer at problem location 
> with a wired mouse. Try using the wireless mouse at the first 
> location. Try reseting the connection between the mouse and the receiver.
>
> LCD Monitor - Not a likely cause of the problem. Try temporarily using 
> a CRT monitor at the problem location.
>
> OS - Not a likely cause of the problem. Try running the XP 
> compatibility program from Microsoft. Reloading the OS does not seem 
> to be necessary and takes a lot of time to load and then update. Try 
> solving the problem without this time consuming process.
>
> Motherboard - Try reseting the BIOS and for good measure try replacing 
> the battery. Check the BIOS version to see if it is the latest version.
>
> BTW Changing the "subject" makes the thread harder to follow for 
> others who might later be researching this issue. And, yes it is fun 
> when approached as a 'challenge' rather than a 'problem'.
>
> I hope this helps.
>
> Tom Mayer
>
>
>>
>
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         PCBUILD maintains hundreds of useful files for download
                     visit our download web page at:
                  http://freepctech.com/downloads.shtml