Reboot and press F12 before XP starts to load. Run extended hard drive tests and the RAM (memory) tests. Make note of any error messages. Possible signs of either a failing hard drive or RAM?? :(

 

If no errors reported. Reboot normally. Then:

start>run

type in: chkdsk c: /f

click ok

Accept the offer to run chkdsk on next boot and then reboot. chkdsk will run before XP loads the next time, and check the hard drive for file system errors.

 

BACK UP YOUR FILES ON CDs OR OTHER EXTERNAL MEDIA ASAP, JUST TO BE SAFE! ;)

 

Ron

thanks, I already tested everything out.  This has all the feelings of another MS snabu following SP3 install.  trouble is that its during shutdown so no error logging takes place

Try installing User Profile Hive Cleanup Service, free from Microsoft.

 

Ron