Temporary system freezes and graphic card?

[Jeff]

My 4yr old laptop's XP Home SP-2 system has been freezing, sometimes just
for 4-5 seconds, but sometimes requiring my killing the process or app I am
working on and sometimes actually needing a hard reset.

I've checked and I have no viruses and no spyware or Trojans. I suspect it
may be the video-card that is going bad. Can a bad video card cause this
kind of behavior, freezing an application? I have the latest driver.

Another possibility might be Windows Media Player which I noticed is often
minimized to my taskbar when this happens (usually while working in MS
Word).

 

[Malke]

My 4yr old laptop's XP Home SP-2 system has been freezing, sometimes
just for 4-5 seconds, but sometimes requiring my killing the process
or app I am working on and sometimes actually needing a hard reset.

I've checked and I have no viruses and no spyware or Trojans. I
suspect it
may be the video-card that is going bad. Can a bad video card cause
this kind of behavior, freezing an application? I have the latest
driver.

Another possibility might be Windows Media Player which I noticed is
often minimized to my taskbar when this happens (usually while working
in MS Word).

The answer to your question is "yes". Certainly failing hardware
components can cause this problem. That doesn't mean that is your
issue. Troubleshooting laptop hardware issues isn't as easy as
t-shooting a desktop. You may want to contact the laptop mftr. or take
it to a local professional who works on laptops.

Malke

 

[Jeff]

Thanks Malke

Probably not worth repairing laptops these days. If it continues, I might
just buy a new one.

Jeff

 

[Steve N.]

Thanks Malke

Probably not worth repairing laptops these days.

Depends what's really wrong with it.

If it continues, I might
just buy a new one.

It will continue until you do something about it.

Jeff

Don't give up Jeff, take it to a good tech like Malke said.

Steve