like chinese symbals strange

O/S w98se
While calling up a file, the file numbers turn into some strange lettering looking like chinese figures, or mixed up language.
What may be causing this?

Could it be a memory problem?

I gave a friend a computer about 2 yrs ago, and he called me to explain what is happening to him.
The MB is MSI-6337- Intel CPU 800mhz-PC133-128mb memory chip.
ATI Rage Fury AGP Video card
NVidia TNT PCI Video card
Help please

Thank you
donabano

 

Is this one particular file or many ?
If just one, what is it's name and type ?
for example afile.txt
regards

 

these are music files. For instance i select g 8123, the numbers start to change into gobbleygook. Many files not just 1. The type of filesw are mp3+g, and cdg

Thank you
donabano

 

What is the name and version of the app that you are trying to
view / play the files with ?
regards

 

Merlin

Thank you for your help. I found that the HDD was getting corrupted because the HDD was failing. I ran Nortons, winterall, and other recovery programs, but in the final analysis it was the HDD.
Thanks again

Donabano