Windows just stops

[James]

I've been using windows xp home edition for about a year
now. Keeping up with the crititcal update, but recently
it seems to totally hang up. I hear a high pitched beeping
from the computer that steadily gets louder, and then the
whole computer seems to go off except that the beeping is
still going on, and the herd drive light and power lights
stay on but the ethernet light goes off. I'm not sure if
this is a windows problem or a hardware problem as yet,
but wondered if anyone had similar problems.

 

[Yannick]

It could be an over heating problem, check your running temp.

 

[Malke]

It could be an over heating problem, check your running temp.

I would say you have a hardware problem. Here are generic 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); 2) test the RAM - I like Memtest86 from
www.memtest86.com - 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) test the
motherboard. If you can't do this testing yourself, take the machine to
a good local computer repair shop (not a CompUSA or Best Buy type of
store).

Malke