desktop quits working after setting idle for a few minutes

[Guest]

After I leave my computer setting idle for even a few minutes, I have to
press ctrl+alt+del and them x out of the task manager for any of the buttons
or programs to work.
I have run complete virus scans, spybot search and destroy, ad aware
personal se, all windows updates, SP2. I even went so far as to reload my XP
Pro to see if this problem would go away. If this is not a virus, what is it?

 

[Malke]

After I leave my computer setting idle for even a few minutes, I have
to press ctrl+alt+del and them x out of the task manager for any of
the buttons or programs to work.
I have run complete virus scans, spybot search and destroy, ad aware
personal se, all windows updates, SP2. I even went so far as to reload
my XP Pro to see if this problem would go away. If this is not a
virus, what is it?

Since you've explored all the software troubleshooting steps, you
probably have failing hardware. 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 - let the test
run for an extended (like overnight) period of time - unless errors are
seen immediately.

3) Test the hard drive with a diagnostic utility from the mftr.

4) The power supply may be going bad or be inadequate for the devices
you have in the system - this isn't applicable to a laptop, of course.

5) Test the motherboard with something like TuffTest from
www.tufftest.com.

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 good local
computer repair shop (not a CompUSA or Best Buy type of store).

Malke