Re: Comp locks after minute or two

From: Malke (invalid_at_not-real.com)
Date: 09/14/05 

Date: Tue, 13 Sep 2005 17:54:31 -0700

Vinternet wrote:

> A week or so ago my computer froze about a minute after startup (the
> mouse cursor wouldn't even move) and I was forced to cold-reboot it.
> The same thing happened a few times so I decided to leave it alone
> until morning. The next day it was working fine, and had no problems
> until two days ago. (I'm on a different computer right now).
>
> So now the computer is doing it again - it will start up Windows XP
> and then after a minute or two, (I almost always have Norton and AIM
> running, but it doesn't always happen on the same event) the computer
> completely freezes, mouse cursor and all, and I have to reboot it from
> the power button on the cabinet. Sometimes it freezes before it even
> finishes booting back up (including when I tried to start it in Safe
> Mode).
>
> Everything is plugged in, and because I've barely been able to use it,
> it shouldn't be overheating or anything. Is this a hardware issue, or
> do I have a virus? And what can I do to tell/fix it?

It very much sounds like a hardware issue. Here are general hardware
troubleshooting steps:

1) Open the computer and run it open, cleaning out all dust bunnies and
observing all fans (overheating will cause system freezing). Obviously
you can't do this with a laptop, but you can hear if the fan is running
and feel if the laptop is getting too hot.

2) Test the RAM - I like Memtest86+ from www.memtest.org. Obviously, you
have to get the program from a working machine. You will either
download the precompiled Windows binary to make a bootable floppy or
the .iso to make a bootable cd. If you want to use the latter, you'll
need to have third-party burning software on the machine where you
download the file - XP's built-in burning capability won't do the job.
In either case, boot with the media you made. The test will run
immediately. Let the test run for an hour or two - unless errors are
seen immediately. If you get any errors, replace the RAM.

3) Test the hard drive with a diagnostic utility from the mftr. Download
the file and make a bootable floppy or cd with it. Boot with the media
and do a thorough test. If the drive has physical errors, replace it.

4) The power supply may be going bad or be inadequate for the devices
you have in the system. The adequacy issue doesn't really apply to a
laptop, although of course the power supply can be faulty.

5) Test the motherboard with something like TuffTest from
www.tufftest.com. Sometimes this is useful, and sometimes it isn't.

Testing hardware failures often involves swapping out suspected parts
with known-good parts. If you can't do the testing yourself and/or are
uncomfortable opening your computer, take the machine to a professional
computer repair shop (not your local equivalent of BigStoreUSA).

Malke 

-- 
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
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