How do I check ram loads? Also, could the ram be the problem even if in safe mode there are no problems? I'm guessing that answer could be yes but I don't know enough about it to know.

When I built it I had 4 1gb sticks of ram--maybe this is part of the problem vista only registered 3gb. Maybe some/all of it is bad.

I also tried to run a hard drive diagnotisc tool. I used a Samsung one for the Samsung HD and it said it couldnt find a HD. Either way, I'm not sure what the problem is. I just know that a clean install of Vista solved the problem for a few days and then it crapped out without notice again.

This is my brother's computer. He is injured and cannot type so he has Dragon Naturally Speaking on there, but with it not running right he can't do his work so I'm hoping to figure it out sooner than later.

Thanks