This is a total Gloat Moment: A client called this week, saying her [shudder] Windows XP machine was restarting itself moments after it had been switched on. I suggested a Safe Boot, but then she said the behavior had changed; she could start up, but before sue could enter her password, it told her the password was incorrect. I took a shot. "Could you grab a different keyboard from another computer in the office?"

"That's not it." "Do me a favor and try it." Victory! Reminded me of an early gig I had, when a Mac was freezing up. The keyboard's wire was totally exposed and shorting out. And one time, a MacBook Pro I owned wouldn't stay asleep; I would find it in my bag completely hot and battery-depleted. Turned out an ExpressCard card reader I had was screwing it up. Hardware is a fragile thing. Don't go reinstalling 'til you've checked out the peripherals!