Good to have you back Ken!
Glad you didn't go for the BS/con-job.
Your problem is most likely a software (Windows) flaw and replacing the hardware is not gonna fix it. Generally, when hardware fails, it fails spectacularly. With software, bugs usually lurk in the background, only to surface at the most inopportune times. So I'd recommend upgrading Windows at minimal cost (say get Win2000 2nd hand for $5-40) ... assuming you would not be prepared to go for something free but more exotic.
... bottom line is that you need to find someone close-by who is at least as interested in helping you as in making a $, and knows what they're doing. That last part is the trickiest bit...