I need help in diagnosing a computer that "dies" at irregular intervals.  It stays dead for various periods of time, sometimes hours, sometimes several days up to a week.  During that time it is just is inoperative.  When it's turned on,with one exception, the various indicator light pop on and off but nothing results.  The only (maybe) significant clue I have is that if the "A" drive light blinks on and off then I know that it going to boot up,  When that light doesn't blink then I know that I'll just have to turn it off and wait for the machine to "wake up" again - as I said this can be days literally.
The machine is a Compaq w. a 900 MHz Athelon processor, running Windows Me, with 256 Mb RAM.  I have installed Spybot, Avast, Adaware, and until a few months ago had Nortons System Work 2003 installed with annual updates.  But after reading here about problems with Norton I "uninstalled" it, but a SEARCH on Symantec still brings up a number of "hits".
I'd sure appreciate advice on how to deal with this aggravation and am willing to purchase a commercial diagnostic software package if that will point me to the problem.  The machine at home is now in this hibernating state so I'm having to write this using a machine at our local Sr. Citizen's Center.  I just cannot understand why this happens and then suddenly, just like magic, it's OK again - until the next episode.
Lewis Emerson

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