okay, well, maybe try this: 1.try removing one modul (256mb mem chip) and reboot (twice so windows could "respond" to the hardware changes) 2.check out the amount of memory in "my computer properties". 3.set the "virtual memory" setting found in the preformance tab, in "my computer properties" window, check the "let me specify my own virtual memory setting",fill 0 in minimum, and 256 in maximum. The logic behind this: 1.i don't know what OS you own, but windows` optimal memory is 512mb 2.some programs i have just crash in a very bizzarre way when i let windows manage my virtual memory. some games do the same when windows decides to allocate memory and never really remembers to free it (a known problem for C, C++ compilers in windows)...which might just be it