i have no idea what is going on, first of all i am running red hat 9.


the problem: i was surfing the internet when my machine froze up, so i reboot it. when it gets to the login screen my keyboard and mouse are totallly disabled, it is as if the computer is frozen from the moment it starts up. i've checked all the wires many times. i was thinking that i may have a virus or something but please help me i can barely use my computer as it is.

Maybe a heat problem.

I had said quirky behavior, with rh9 on an old e-machines box.

I found leaving it alone fixed the problem (I attribute this to electrostatic discharge, but voodoo seems equally likely) Anyways, I never had the problem after I upgraded to FC1 and eventually FC2 .. the box am using to type this reply.

what is FC? i am not familiar with the name

FC = Fedora Core
Redhat's new Open Source project
http://fedora.redhat.com

Red Hat 9 was the last consumer release by Red Hat. They separated into the Fedora Core system which is still free to download/use and is generally maintained by the community now with Red Hat supplying new technologies to test in Fedora. Think of Fedora Core 1 as "Red Hat 10". As a way to minimize confusion between Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Red Hat standard, the "Red Hat" name went strictly to Enterprise editions.. which you have to buy licensing to use (though *officially* you are paying for the support/updates). Fedora Core remains free and open, just has a different name. It is nearly identical to Red Hat including the Red Fedora logo for the main menu. The only thing that has been changed is the name "Red Hat" appears nowhere in the OS, nor does the Red Hat "shadowman" logo. It is a very easy to use OS... I started with Red Hat 9... then moved to the Fedoras.. you'll enjoy them.. I recommend making the switch as Red Hat 9 is no longer supported via updates..

how long did it take for your machine to fix itself, also is the any kind of safe start-up like in windows i can try?