PLEASE HELP: Windows XP hangs when there is low or no system activ

[Guest]

When there is low activity, like when I'm just casually exploring my files or
browsing the net, sometimes (i'd much rather say many times), the mouse
pointer just freezes. Any sort of movement (animations etc.) on the screen
stop. The screen just freezes to death and I have to restart the computer.
Also, when this happens, the hard disk light turns on and stays on. I've
tried waiting for 2-3 hrs but nothing happens. ALso, my monitor is equipped
with a function called 'Degauss'. It like shakes the screen a bit to refresh
the arrangement of the scattered electrons or something, I don't know
exactly. If I use this function when my PC is frozen like I said above, it
automatically restarts. I son't know how these three events are hooked up,
but can anybody please help me? I don't even know weather this is a hardware
or a software problem.
BTW: Reinstalling windows does not help either

 

[R. McCarty]

Several things for you to check/update. The video driver probably
needs updating. As to degaussing a monitor, I've never encountered
a situation where that would trigger a re-boot. Check your video
cable connections - Make sure the lock downs are tight and the plug
is snuggly inserted.
Freezing (or a Halt), could be heat related or an issue with your Pwr
supply. But before you investigate that I would get the latest driver for
your Video card and install. Also, are you using the built-in mouse
driver or one from the vendor (Logitech, etc) ?. You might want to
also get the vendor's latest mouse control package.
MS Intellipoint 5.2 for Microsoft Mice
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/Download.mspx
SetPoint (Logitech) 2.14 ( Not MouseWare, Uninstall any existing
mouse control software before updating).
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/downloads/software/US/EN,CRID=1792,contentid=9409