Windows locks up

Claire Drew · 14 Jan 2007 at 19:58

I have just started to have problems with my Windows xp pro.

I can surf the web and have other bits and bobs running in the back ground.

But at random the machine freezes. The mouse still moves and the pc will still complete the tasks running.

For example if music is running on media player you can still see the pictures on the screen and the music runs perfect????

Anyone got any ideas :confused:

dirtydog · 14 Jan 2007 at 20:13

Reboot?

masslac · 14 Jan 2007 at 20:15

Restart the machine. Check msconfig for any startup items you don't recognise. Check taskmanager for any running processes you do not recognise.

Post back if you find anything odd. A full scan with ad-aware certainly wouldnt do any harm.

Firegod · 14 Jan 2007 at 20:16

Might just be a driver, or something.

Perhaps try running a disk cleanup on your drives, run a 3rd-party app such as CCleaner as well. Run RegSeeker to fix registry problems. Up-date Windows, chipset mobo drivers, sound, graphics, etc. Perhaps update your windows applications, such as WMP, etc.

Claire Drew · 16 Jan 2007 at 09:36

the Pc has been running fine for months with no change to software or updates. I have a set of apps that are used a large amount and apart from the odd game and surfing the web no changes are made.

I did do a Adware scan the other week and that is the only thing I can think of that affected it.

I did a restore to before the adware scan see if that helped and it made the system more stable (still had same problem just not as much)?

Anyway last night I heard the PC beeping.

1 beep from the internal speaker so turned the moniter on and the pc was running fine but with this beep occuring at random times?? :confused:

R5GTT · 16 Jan 2007 at 09:40

could be a dodgey memory module, If your using 2 sticks try booting the pc with just one then with the other and see if you still get the beep.

Claire Drew · 16 Jan 2007 at 10:08

I powered off the pc last night and at work til later. will give it a go and see what results I get.

Claire Drew · 17 Jan 2007 at 08:49

OK so tried the memory thing and no change.

I was on the pc from 6pm to 9ish and had no beeps.

I turned the monitor off and left the tower running as normal. With in 10 mins of doing this the pc started to bleep again at random. some times with in a couple of seconds of each other, other times 10 - 15 mins apart?

Did a full virus scan to make sure no virus. All ok.

zetec452 · 17 Jan 2007 at 08:54

Are any of the fans inside the case blocked?

DevilsAdvocate · 17 Jan 2007 at 09:36

Dunno if this helps, but my old PC used to beep when it was overheating.

t31os · 17 Jan 2007 at 14:50

DevilsAdvocate said:
Dunno if this helps, but my old PC used to beep when it was overheating.

Agreed.

Only time a PC has beeped whilst on in my experience is when its overheating, and thats not to say its the only time a PC will beep while its on.

Leave the PC on a while, then reboot and enter the bios, because it sounds to me like the problem occurs after being on a while ie. after a heat build up.