thanks for the replies
Computer is maybe 2.0-2.5 years old (PIII-M/128MB RAM). It was a gift out of the box so I will need to track down the boot diskette, but I am already losing hope based on what I've read so far...this really stinks
Guess it is time to find an authorized IBM technician
just can't believe that it was working fine one minute and then crashing the next