Starting Word locks up PC

This laptop (P-III 64Mb RAM, W-98, Office 2000) has worked fine for 2 years. Recently just starting Word would lock the PC. Invoking the CTRL-ALT-DEL produces the blue screen of death, then when pressing a key, a window comes up telling that the system is dangerously low on resources. Try as I might, I can’t even close down word, or anything else to start over.

I’ve reinstalled Word, purged office and reinstalled – still same. HELP!