Cluster
 

Working with an old Windows 98 or ME packardbell computer that upon startup, it'll boot load pretty well, but once at the main screen, I can move the mouse, but the hourglass around it never goes away and I cant click or type anything.
I was thinking of installing Linux on it and clustering it to some other household computers.
I put the Disk in and it wouldn't boot upon startup, I checked the settings and it should have worked but it just loaded like it has the last 900 times.
My question is, do you know what is wrong with the computer?
My hopes are it'll be broken RAM, so I can just remove it and replace it and get going on my way.
A second question is, if an internal conponant needs to be replaced, what should it be replaced with (latest technology that will still function on the computer)? Also, I was thinking of upgrading the RAM and videocard what should I be looking at there to replace those parts as well?

Can you boot with a live distribution ?

With my Windows XP Pro I learned that when the hour glass stays and you can't type it is because a application, update or a program is running in the background.

Try using your Windows Task Manager(holding down ctrl+alt+del) to show you what processes are running, if it will let you.

Sure do, it has Windows on it.

run msconfig from the start menu and disable startup items.

Video example shown here...
or use this excellent tool