Windows XP Home Edition - Freeze problem

[Guest]

I am running Windows XP Home Edition on a Dell Dimension 8400 desktop.
Recently have started experiencing a strange problem where the system refuses
to respond. The following things continue to work:Sometimes if I leave it alone, the system returns to normal. More often, the
system stays like this for a long time, I lose patience and hard boot -
obviously this is not a long term solution to the problem! Also, sometimes
when I am pressing down on the power off button, the system logs me off as
though it were a normal shutdown.

This problem is beyond my limited diagnostic skills ... any help would be
much appreciated!!

 

[DL]

You might try msconfig.exe and disable all start-up items, check if problems
reoccur. If not its a Q of elimination.

 

[Guest]

Thanks, I will try out msconfig. Hope it works, but nothing has changed in
the startup params (including the list of startup programs etc.) in the past
few weeks - the problem has only started surfacing recently.

 

[DL]

You could also run in safe mode, for a while, if problem doesnt occur its
likely down to a driver.
Updated any recently?

 

[Guest]

Sorry for the delayed response, was trying out a few things. No drivers have
changed recently. Could it be the heat (the laughable English summer was here
for a couple of days)? I make sure I shut down at least once a day, and the
problem has not been as frequent. Maybe ....

I'll keep trying out new options ... or else reinstall and cross my fingers!