Avoiding forced shutdown from non-functioning system

[Chris]

Hello everybody...I'm about as new as you can be so please forgive my
ignorance.

I have just put a test computer together to learn....and learn well
Ubuntu. (I'm coming from Open Suse...to many issues that never seemed to
get resolved.)  
For reference the pc uses the Intel 945G chipset (with onboard
graphics),512MB DDR2 RAM and a SATA HD.  
I'm assuming it's some drive conflict, but with this machine the machine
stops responding.  This last time it was the mouse would still function
but I couldn't click on anything, and the keys wouldn't function.  Other
times the nothing would function and the machine would just lock up.
Other than just dumping the power on the machine (or using the "Forced
Misbehaving"applet is there another way to view what the heck is going
on with this system?  
Also sometime when the machine boots the desktop would show, but the
panel would not show unless I click on the Desktop. Any idea why this
happens.
I haven't notice this issue with the Intels 865 or 875 chipsets...just
the 945...?

Also guys I have some questions about things that may not be
techincal....where is the best place to ask questions like what's the
best software for remote desktop for Ubuntu to a WinXP machine...and
things like that?

Thanks,
Chris