Computer unstable

Hi I have run spybot and virus scan My computer running Win ME switches itself off and I need to pull the mains plug before I can restart it The button on the box won't do it Sometimes it won't come back on until after several tries even after leaving it switched off for up to 30 mins Is it likely to be a software or hardware problem It only started a few days ago I have zonealarm and avast virus programme Thanks Derek

hi derekp,

sounds like a hardware issue to me. power supply going bad maybe.
you could remove the case and clean up on the inside, check cable connections to make sure there secure, reseat the RAM, video and PCI cards, only if you are comfortable doing this. that would be a start anyway.

http://www.ehow.com/how_3664_clean-computers-insides.html

http://www.rccomputer.net/content/cpu_cln1.html