It is definitely the laptop....I'm on Linux so I'm sure its not a virus. I also have run the system software to check everything and its telling me hard drive is failing. I already have everything backed up and store most things on an external drive anyway. It wouldn't read the external drive but the kids computer would...I am going to look into replacing the hardrive but I really miss my desktop! Its harder to edit pictures on this laptop as the color is never quite right and calibrating it is impossible like I could on a desktop. I luckily still have my desktop monitor so will just have to get a tower. I've been running linux for about 6 years now and have never had issues like these either.