Member Avatar for anon94040

Have a new Compaq desktop computer running Win XP Home. Randomly, it seems to freeze up: no mouse input, no keyboard input allowed (not even control-alt-delete). Have to hard re-boot to get it to run again.

Happens not only after awhile of sitting, but sometimes while doing work on it.

Any suggestions as to what to check?

TIA

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Quick plan and context: several replies already covered the usual basics (driver/BIOS updates from and , service/startup isolation from , and the HDD/RAM suspicion from ; notes SpyBot/AVG can trigger it). If the simple fixes didn’t help, follow a methodical approach: collect evidence, try to reproduce in a controlled way, and then isolate hardware vs software.

Windows-side evidence first — capture a dump and analyze it. Check Event Viewer (System/Application) for errors at the freeze time. Enable kernel-mode dumps so crashes produce analyzable files, and configure the keyboard crash shortcut (add the CrashOnCtrlScroll DWORD per Microsoft so you can force a dump when the machine hangs; the usual hotkey is Right-Ctrl + ScrollLock twice). Use a post-mortem analyzer (WhoCrashed) or WinDbg to read dumps. For suspect drivers, Driver Verifier will stress them and force a diagnosable failure (use on a test machine; it causes BSODs). (learn.microsoft.com)

Hardware checks next — RAM, disk, temps and power. Boot a trusted memory tester (MemTest86+) from USB/CD and run multiple passes; if errors show, test one DIMM at a time and try other slots. Run the drive maker’s offline diagnostics (example: Seagate SeaTools) and / or run chkdsk /r from Recovery Console to find bad sectors. Boot a Linux/Rescue live image and run for a while; if the freeze reproduces outside Windows, it’s almost certainly hardware. (memtest.org)

Power and board troubleshooting — test the PSU (multimeter or inexpensive PSU tester) and look for motherboard capacitor problems (bulging/leaking electrolytics can cause intermittent hangs). Try a minimal-configuration test (single RAM stick, no add-on cards, disconnect nonessential drives) and swap parts where possible. If AV seems involved (per ), scan from an offline rescue disk (Kaspersky Rescue Disk) so drivers/real-time shields are out of the picture. Collect Event Viewer entries, dump files and memtest/drive-test logs before asking for more help — those artifacts let responders point to a driver, a failing module, or a bad PSU/motherboard. (help.corsair.com)

If needed, post the exact Event Viewer errors and any WhoCrashed/WinDbg output; that will let people give targeted next steps (driver name, failing module, or hardware replacement advice).

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Member Avatar for rasputinj

I would first make sure I am up to date on my MS Updates and drivers. I would then turn off any Power Options in the Control panel, turn off HD, sleep mode, etc. If that does not work start to look at what is running, look at your services or msconfig. Turn off stuff you do not need. Make sure you Virus Scan is up to date also.

If that does not work, I would search MS knowledge base or call HP/Compaq.

good luck let us know what worked and what did not..

Member Avatar for Gazza_23

Have a new Compaq desktop computer running Win XP Home. Randomly, it seems to freeze up: no mouse input, no keyboard input allowed (not even control-alt-delete). Have to hard re-boot to get it to run again.

Happens not only after awhile of sitting, but sometimes while doing work on it.

Any suggestions as to what to check?

TIA

Not a suggestion to solve your problem, but I have the same issue with my PC Clone, so it may not be Compaq related.

I can make it freeze at will by running Spy Bot or AVG, which I do as a test after I try the latest suggestion from someone, but still do not have a solution.

Good Luck with your problem.

Gazza :)

Member Avatar for Laser

I had similar issues with XP Pro on a system I built. Updating my motherboard drivers fixed me up; you may also want to check for BIOS updates. I actually tried a BIOS update first but I still experienced lock ups.

Member Avatar for abbasmj

1. Seems like problem with the harddrive or the memory

Member Avatar for Packet.22

Try going to msconfig and click the "services" tab and check "hide all microsoft services" and then unchecked all the one's that remain and see if that works.........

1. Start===>run====>msconfig
2. click the "startup" tab
3. check hide all microsoft services
4. uncheck all the serivce remaining

I know your antivirus and/or firewall is prob. going to be in th elist just uncheck them for the purpose of doinga check cause it could be one of those causing it.

If that does not work then i would update the drivers or for to device manager and check too see if there is anything in there that is an EXACT DUPLICATE of another device and remove one if it is.

Then i would unplug and printers or anything like that cause that could cause it to freezes like that

Then i would try to do an CLEAN INSTALL of windows xp pro to rule out software and then start thinking it would be hardware. Cause Software fails more than hardware ;)

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