Need a little help here - My computer freezes

My system freezes most of the time, and it started 3 days ago. When it happens the only option is to restart. In the pursuit to what is gong wrong, I found out that....

1. It happens after I use the system for long time. And once it does, it repeats again when I restart.. (Also the problem disappears for some time if I switch off.)

2. The freezing happens with a small 'tick' sound

3. I also think, when I download something, it happens too often, say every 5 minutes...

What could be the problem??

 

Sounds like something is overheating. When was the last time you cleaned your computer?

 

Yesterday. I took out everything, even unscrewed the Motherboard out of and cleaned it up. also cleaned the heatsink fan and the whole thing.

The problem persists..

 

Are you running Vista by chance?

 

No. I'm on Xp.

By the way, There were also some scrambled coulour lines appear when the screen goes stuck.

 

Give it a format and it will be solved

 

Check your CPU fan. I had this happen on an older box, the fan died and the CPU would force the PC to shutdown when it got too hot. Unfortunately I didn't realize it until it was too late and the CPU melted shortly afterwards from overheating.

 

The cpu fan is working well.

 

This should go without saying, but when was the last time you did a virus/spyware scan?

 

i use Avast free version, And checked yesterday. (That was after i reinstalled windows.)

 

Try AVG: http://free.avg.com

Avast isn't that reliable.

But it sounds like you've got a hardware failure, I doubt it's software related. If that's the case, unless you have the tools you'll probably have to take it to a shop for them to diagnose.

 

I did quick check - Cpu runs at 55 degree C and hard disk at 45.

Is that cpu temperature too hot ?

 

I'll be honest with you, and PC Repair is my main business - it sounds like over-heating to me, and with the CPU itself.

Did you have this problem prior to cleaning the PC? If not, then you may have caused another problem yourself.

1) Try taking the side off the case, and run some tests to see if it runs any longer, etc. This is a good way to test for overheating, as the side off should allow the components to stay cool for longer.

2) Take the CPU fan off, and blow it clean with compressed air, if you can get your hands on it. Then clean off the residue of the Thermal Paste and reapply some new paste before putting back on (thermal paste is available on ebay for a couple of quid). Do not, and I repeat, do not take the fan off the CPU and just stick it back on without replacing the thermal paste!!!!

If it is your actual CPU fan, and not a general heat problem inside your PC, the no. 2 above will be the only thing to try other than buying a new CPU Cooling Fan.

I would suggest you get onto this asap btw, before you actually damage your CPU itself. A CPU Fan can cost £8-£20, but a CPU will cost a lot more.

Give the above a try, and let us know how it goes. If you need any specific help, then feel free to drop me an email/pm and I will advise where possible.

 

I believe 60 is usually when you start running into a problem, so you're ok (but every CPU is different, you'll have to lookup the specs online for whichever one you've got).

Not sure about the harddrive.

Is the exhaust fan working properly?

 

Sorry, you posted this whilst I was typing my other answer.

Tell me, where did you obtain these figures from?

If they are from the system itself, then they are probably accurate, and then you do not have a specific problem with CPU temp - this would still point to an overall heat problem though.

Ensure:
1) You do not have your PC anywhere near a radiator, or direct sunlight, etc
2) Run the PC with the side casing off, see if it lasts any longer.
3) Also get readings from CPU, etc when you have turnbed it back on after a shutdown problem - it may still be overheating, but you are picking the wrong time to take a reading.

 

I'd agree 100% with this tbh, AVG 8.0 is a great free product.

 

Sounds like overheating.

 

I took the reading after a freeze from 'Speedfan' software and I usually run the system with a side open.

By the way my processor is Sempron 2600+.

 

Ok, looking at your description I'll agree with most of the folks here, you have a heating issue most likely. Alternately it could also be a power issue. Unlike others, I think that the overheating component is probably a video card, especially if you have an external card instead of on board video. If you do have on board video it sounds like your motherboard is likely going out. When you cleaned it up were there any signs of scorching?

 

Anyway the system hasn't frozen for 3 hours of using, this after I reduced the CPu core speed to 1.4 Ghz. And Somehow the hard disk isn't heating up as it did earlier, I don't know what happened there, but the system is stable right now.


Edit : No......it just happened again