[blondemama]

I need major help with my computer! I am using Windows 98 and my computer has been freezing up. It will freeze completely, the screen will freeze, the mouse too, and I can't use ctrl+alt+del. The only thing I can do is give it a hard shut down and then power it back on and relog in. It doesn't have a specific pattern, it will freeze at any time, when I am online or offline, and timing doesn't matter either. Sometimes it'll freeze right away, or after i've been on for awhile. I've tried to run Spybot and it doesn't seem to detect the problem. I also have ZoneAlarm as my firewall, and run Avast! anti-virus too. My IP provider is AOL dial up(free trial version). I am sort of computer literate, I have been learning everything "hands-on" from just being on the computer and having to fix problems myself, so please give any info that could help me. I would REALLY appreciate any help at this point. I am so frustrated by this problem, especially when I am in the middle of something important and have to reboot!!

 

[Hulk701]

It sounds like your cpu fan may not be working. Do you have any way of checking cpu (processor) temperature? Any software for that?

IF not you may be able to press DEL while rebooting and checking something called Hardware Monitor or System Monitor.

My motherboard is an MSI and its called MSI monitor. Yours is probably called something different.

IF you can find it leave it running for a couple of minutes and see how much or how fast your cpu temp rises.

IF it rises above say 200F degrees or higher you need a new cpu fan.

If you can't check it this way, open up your box while your computer is turned on and see if the fan over the cpu is working.

 

[blondemama]

I'm not sure how to check the temp on my computer, but I am still having the same problem. It will freeze up sometimes just a few minutes after I start it and other times it might take an hour or two to freeze. It froze five times on me today. Four times were all within an hour!! I am so mad at this silly comp!! Help!!

 

[dharma_57]

when was the last time you cleaned the inside of the computer of dust. over time your fans will build up dust and it will clog them. thusly not letting them cool. open case and look for dust. if there get a can of compressed air and blow it out.
good luck

 

[axis77]

I think this is definately a hardware issue, I would do what everybody else says and open the case and take a look at how everything is running, then give it a good air cleaning, and also reseed your memory sticks, really make sure that alll your fans are running and make sure you dont have a heater by your computer.