Well as long as your planning on packing you might as well pack up Windows 98 and send it back to Microsoft. Windows resource problems have been around since the days of Windows 3.1. For some reason, probably known only to Bill Gates, Windows develops memory leaks when used with some software applications and won't kick back the resources when the software is exited. My previous Compaq computer had the same problem with Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 and I eventually used third party software to correct it. Likewise with Windows 98 there are third party software applications that will recycle the Windows resources and kick them back. Fortunately now a days, programs like Ram Booster are freeware. Check around on the Web and you'll find them.

The memory leak problem is not unique to Dell. I've seen it on my Compaq, on friends' Gateway, Packard Bell, Radio Shack, HP and the newer Compaqs computers.

The reason your noticing the problem less on other computers could be related to the amount and type of software that is loaded at startup. Compared to my Dell, my computer at work loads the bare bones of startup applications. Hence, the resource loss over the day isn't as great as my Dell. I would suggest with your next system you play around with it at the store for a while and try and find one with the leakest applications.

Thanks for the info; I wonder if Dell is aware of the programs you mention; in 5 frustrating service calls, I never received as much good advice.

Thanks again

Glad to help. A few weeks back I had visited:

http://download.cnet.com

and found several memory/resource managers for Windows 95/98. They can be found in the PC UTILITES section under the OPTIMIZER/DIAGNOSTIC menu. Some are free for the download while others are shareware and available for a small fee. Hope you find one you like.