If I use ctl-alt-del, same thing, I get a choice of the things running and no matter which I choose, I get the dialog box 'cannot close application...' and thereafter same as above.
But occasionally I will get the blue screen at this point, which says press any key to continue or press ctl-alt-del again for restart. Neither works.
Sometimes when this happens if I move the mouse a lot, as I move it, the computer begins to make a series of clicking noises out the speakers. Rate varies as rate of moving mouse. 5-15Hz est.
The only way out of it is to do a power down and restart by holding the start button on the front of the computer down for 5-10 seconds. After restart scandisk runs, and computer comes up ok until the next time it happens. If there is a correlation to helper apps such as acrobat reader or others, I don't see it. Also see no correlation to which websites I have visited. Typically newspapers and blogs.
Have done all the steps rec in topic 2852, always comes up clean of viruses and other malware. W98SE/IE current. IBM Netvista 6018. BIOS current.
Any ideas out there?
Garry W.