BleepingComputer.com: BIG PROBLEM! Apps Freeze,restarts by itself, PLEASE HELP !!!

Oh Please help ! There is something very wrong and I don't seem to have a Virus.
Skype started to freeze up during Video calls, then other Applications and programs started to freeze ( Everything )to where I have to Manually Restart my PC.
Now it just shuts down and restarts by itself.
Help is deeply appriciated.
Liane

System specs?

e-mashine ,Win XP, 512 MB DDR SD RAM, AMD Sepron processor .120 GB Hard drive

When is the last time you inspected the inside of your computer for dust?

When computer systems start freezing up for no reason, the first things you want to do is check for a cooling problem.

When CPU and GPU processors start to reach unsafe temperature levels, things start to freeze up.

I suggest you do an internal inspection of cooling fans and the heat sinks they are attached to for dust build up.

If you wittiness any dust build up, it is time to clean the computer out and remove all dust found inside.

Most people use compressed air sold in an aerosol can to blow the dust out of the computer case.

Bruce.

This post has been edited by MrBruce1959: 06 August 2010 - 02:24 PM

Hi Bruce,
Ok Thanks I will check for dust build up, hopefully thats the problem. However I did Install a second Fan a couple of years ago but it has been about 6 month since I had the computer open last and there was only a small amount of dust which i cleaned however I will check and get back with you.
Thanks

luv4mypc, on Aug 6 2010, 07:47 PM, said:

More fans, more dust. Hopefully that is the issue.

luv4mypc, on Aug 6 2010, 09:41 AM, said:

Are you dual booting XP and Windows 7 with only 512mb ram?

Hi Again,
OK that was a heck of a surgery but at least the Patient is still alive lol.

I don't have windows 7 I have win xp and may have posted in the wrong catagory.
Well There was a HUGE amount of dust, especially in the Fan on top of the heatsink. I got all that cleaned,
however I could not take the heatsink out but I dont think it matters to much? I got it pretty clean and if I remember right dust can't get between the Heatsink and CPU right?
There is a clip that holds the heatsink down and I could not open it. There was plenty of dust between the coils und I used a vaccum hose to get it out. also cleaned out and between other components..hopefully that will do the trick ... I have to run it for a while to see. I will post again tonight .
Thanks so much !
Liane

Topic reported so that it will be moved to XP forum. yes I would not take off the heat sync as then it would need thermal paste to be reapplied and I doubt that is dried out so just let it run and see what happens.

I've moved it to the XP forum for you. ~ OB

It is my hope that your computer problem has been resolved and your machine purrs along cheerfully as it should be.

It is best to schedule regular cleaning routines every six months, mark your calender so you won't forget.

Dust build up is over looked with freeze up problems because people usually keep a clean house, one thing about dust is it is invisible to the naked eye, that is unless you view it floating through the air with direct sunlight passing through it.

The cooling fans have a habit of sucking in cool air, that air is the same you viewed the dust particles floating through.

Best of luck to you luv4mypc and hope all goes well with your computer.

Kind regards.

Bruce.

So far so good !!
I didn't even think about dust buildup.
You guys are so wonderful here.
I have not had a problem all day no freezes , No reboots.
Problem seems to be solved
Thanks so much Bruce !
Liane

luv4mypc, on Aug 9 2010, 04:30 AM, said:

You really made my day!

I just wanted to say to you, that I do what I do here at BC because I enjoy spreading happiness into other peoples lives and this is one way of doing it.

So with that that being said, you're very much welcomed for my help and happy computing.

Peace and happiness to you and yours.

Bruce.