Back again with an update on efforts to resurrect my ailing Acer Aspire L100 home computer.

I've been overwhelmed with helpful suggestions from Computer Corner Blog and Newsletter readers; if I haven't yet replied personally to your submission, I apologize. I do read all my e-mail!

Briefly, the L100, running Windows Vista, started spontaneously rebooting itself after about two years of use.

Several of you suggested this could be a heat-related problem. Since my last report, I have disassembled the computer, which is not easy because as an ultra-compact desktop model it's designed more like a notebook — everything is really scrunched together inside.

I vacuumed the air intake and exhaust ports on the case, around the cooling fins and wherever I could find dust inside.

I removed and re-seated the two 1 gigabyte memory chips.

I tested the integrity of the memory using both the utility on the Windows disc and a DOS-based software utility.

The hard drive has been checked out by a software program from the model's manufacturer.

No USB peripherals are plugged in (except for the keyboard and mouse that came with the system).

But even after all that — and my willingness to sacrifice the contents of the built-in hard drive (all my data is always stored on an external USB hard drive) — I still can't get Windows Vista or Windows 7 to install or run, even though the open source Ubuntu Linux operating system loads and runs right along without any problems.

In desperation, I did contact Acer by e-mail, only to be informed that I would have to part with $60 for a half-hour of time with a telephone tech support representative to get any official help.

No thanks.

My quest continues. I may eventually have to invest that $60 in a new computer, but for now I think I'll continue puzzling over the L100.

I enjoy challenges.

E-MAIL: askwalt@wfaa.com

BLOG: Computer Corner Blog