Macropod,

The PPT document is basically the same template across the board with all students. There documents have pictures, color background, sound, etc... all the wing dings you can imagine. So, all the students use basically the same procedure on there computers. Again, they (individually) open there own document on there assigned computer. The other catch is the teacher uses Thumb drives which the students take home and use there drives at home. So, the possibility of a virus like activity is high. I don't know that is what is causing the problem but it is likely.

Could there a macro virus or spyware affecting the Office XP? I have scanned a few computers but it didn't reveal anything.

Yes, I have done a Detect and Repair but I don't know that is was helpful. The other problem is this, on there files, the students have a color boxes on the slides. When this problem takes place, they lose the color of the box. For example, they have a box that is blue background, after PPT stops responding, the background turns white.

Any other suggestions?