XP Locked up

[Guest]

Dell Inspiron 512MB RAM, 60GB hard drive.
Have run all Dell diagnostics- OK
McAfee Virus scan - OK
Microsoft Malicious Software check - OK
CHKDSK in DOS - OK

Problem - System is fine until an application starts to use the hard drive.
Then the hard drive goes into a constant busy state (disk light on steady),
the Page File Usage goes way up (from 256 normal to a steady 900+), the
available physical memory goes way down, and CPU usage is 1%.

A simple way for me to cause the problem is to do a START, SEARCH , type in
a file name and hit SEARCH. The above happen immediately, and the SEARCH
application staus is NOT RESPONDING.

Any Ideas?
Joe

 

[Malke]

Dell Inspiron 512MB RAM, 60GB hard drive.
Have run all Dell diagnostics- OK
McAfee Virus scan - OK
Microsoft Malicious Software check - OK
CHKDSK in DOS - OK

Problem - System is fine until an application starts to use the hard
drive. Then the hard drive goes into a constant busy state (disk light
on steady), the Page File Usage goes way up (from 256 normal to a
steady 900+), the available physical memory goes way down, and CPU
usage is 1%.

A simple way for me to cause the problem is to do a START, SEARCH ,
type in a file name and hit SEARCH. The above happen immediately, and
the SEARCH application staus is NOT RESPONDING.

I'm not convinced the Dell diagnostics are that great. I'd run a test on
the hard drive using the drive mftr.'s diagnostic utility. I'd also run
a RAM test.

See here for details:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Hardware_Troubleshooting

Also check the laptop to see if it is overheating. Listen for fans, feel
the bottom, etc.

Malke