XP computer crashes

[offmyrocker]

Having trouble with an xp machine, that crashes. The screen goes blank, leds stay on, but cannot fucntion. It happens at different times. Could be on the computer for hours and nothing happens or could be on for a few minutes. Thought it was the northbridge over heating as the heat sync was loose. Replaced that and thermol gel, still no luck. Also did a boot scan for virus, using Avast and cleared any virus's out. Any ideas?

 

[linney]

What is your Video Card like, is it fitted tightly, and are there any updated drivers you can try?

You could try some RAM checkers too.

http://www.memtest86.com/

http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

Can you try a different Monitor if the machine seems to be running or reacting to any key or mouse movement while the screen is blank?

The hard drive manufacturer will have free diagnostic software to thoroughly check the condition of the hard drive.

Yes, it does sound like it could be overheating.

 

[offmyrocker]

Video card is part of the moterboard. Have updated the lastest chipset drivers. Don't think it's the monitor as the keyboard stops working. Will try the Memtest and a HD test. Checked temp of the processor in the Bios and it stays 45c.

 

[offmyrocker]

Ran a mem test, all okay. Have noticed on the last couple of crashes that when the computer crashes, the screen is all scrambled and the only thing you can do is hold power to power down. Also, the computer was cleaned out lately of dust.

 

[offmyrocker]

The HD is a Western Digital, it passes the diagnostics tool. Anymore info would be a great help.

 

[Lemon13]

does it also happen in safe-mode

did avast find a virus

try with a addon video-card

download i.e motherboardmonitor and log the temperatures/voltages until freeze

if possible try with a different psu

confirm that its not related to a power-issue(ac)

check eventviewer for errors

try without network
......................2 be continued

 

[BadBigBen]

Have noticed on the last couple of crashes that when the computer crashes, the screen is all scrambled

could be build in VGA is overheating...

also, and this may sound strange but it does happen, it could be the case, e.g. I have a case where the mainboard would not run stable, it would crash, restart, and loose hard drives... outside of the case, and in another case, it all ran fine, and still is...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.

 

[linney]

Also, the computer was cleaned out lately of dust".

It might have jiggled something inside of the machine that is now not making a proper connection thus giving you an intermittent type of fault?

What came first the dust cleanup or the fault?