This one time at band camp, my computer wouldn't stay on the screensaver, and would not 'go to sleep'.

Cat hair in the optical mouse.

Think I'll just change the mobo and reinstall XP. Needs it, takes about 2:30 minutes to full boot. but I just found a couple of new things in start-up, in msconfig.

At camp, are those cats also called Mountain Lions?

All the flappin trouble this caused. I'm almost sure was Outlook Express that caused the shit. Stayed in stand-by all last nite and most of today.

Wouldn't surprise me
 

Busterb,

Is there not a better program you can use than that?

Yes, but that's another reason to reinstall XP. Thunderbird and Firefox will both install, but never run. I gave up on that last year.