PC freeze problem

[Mike]

Hello,

I am having a problem with a laptop running Windows XP professional.
Over the weekend I started to notice the machine completely freezing
up to where I would been to shut it down with the power button and
then start it back up with the power button. I have run adaware, and
also spybot, as well as an antivirus program and that has not helped.
I have noticed but havent completely narrowed it down to being
connected to the internet. I would need to remove my network cable
and see if it happens to completely determine that. What I have
noticed is that the last few times its happened, it happened while
being connected to the internet or while bring up a webpage.

I no idea how to continue to diagnose this, or fix it. I have not
installed any new hardware, or software lately and the hard drive
appears to be fine, I have not received any messages or have had any
problems booting up the machine. The freezes do not seem to occur at
any fixed amount of time.

Any help I can get is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Mike

 

[Guest]

99.9 % of the time this occurs it is caused by over-heating of the CPU.
Your internal cooling fan may need cleaning or replacing. You can do it
yourself by opening the case/laptop or have it done professionally for about
$40
Do it yourself for free or maybe the cost of a fan for $8

 

[Guest]

Byte -

I have the same problem. How come 99.9% it is the overheating of the power
supply? If there is a power problem, wouldn't that register somewhere as a
temperature alarm or error that there is overheating? Wouldn't overheating
cause the power to shut off rather than freeze the CPU and leave the computer
running just frozen (where the only alternative is to pull the power cord
since the ctrl-alt-del or pushing the reset power button on the desktop
doesn't work?). In any case, I just finishing vacuuming the inside of the
PC. Let's see what happens. Would hate to think I need a new power supply
(3 yr old CPU).

Thanks,

Mike