XP crash

[Richard Braun]

Thanks to Gerry's suggestions I ran chkdsk/f/r and MemTest. Little did I
know what I would be in for:
I started Checkdisk (C drive only) (run from Windows with the
option "scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors") at 9 am and it
finally completed its labors 14 hours later at 11 pm. It reported only that
the scan was completed successfully. Presumably this means that no bad
sectors were found or repaired.
As for MemTest, I had to brush up on my DOS commands to get this utility to
run but finally managed to download the correct exe/zip file, burn a cd of
the unzipped file using Nero (bootable disk option), boot the computer with
the new disk, proceed to the appropriate subdirectory and then run the
program. It also reported no errors.
I learned a lot about self test programs as a consequence of all this, and I
do appreciate the advice. Unfortunately it leaves me no closer to a solution
for the problem of random freeze ups, with which I began this post in the
first place on Feb 28. Sincerely,
Richard

 

[Sam Culotta]

I'm having a freeze problem much like yours. At least once each time I'm
using my Internet Explorer 7 browser. Thought it might be a cheap
virus/spyware program, changed it to Microsoft's own One Care.. same
problem. No help anywhere.
S.

 

[Derek Harvey]

Might your system be over-heating so that the processor is stopping? Have a
look inside and see if the fans are bunged up with fluff.

Derek

 

[Richard Braun]

Yes, that's been suggested and done. There are three fans in my computer (a
Compaq Presario desktop): one for the power supply, one on top of a big heat
sink stuck to the back of the CPU with silicone grease, and one general fan
for the rest of the case. I even blew what little dust there was out of the
fins of the heat sink. I now have a spanking clean machine, but the
occasional freeze ups still occur.
Richard