See if it finds any spyware/viruses. It will delete or rename or move any rogue files or registry entries.
Get a Mac.
Had to be the first to say what was going to be said sooner or later... :)
I had similar but not the same problems
had to have new motherboard installed
Regarding superantispyware:
01. Install it and double-click the icon on your desktop to run it.
02. It will ask if you want to update the program definitions, click Yes.
03. Under Configuration and Preferences, click the Preferences button.
04. Click the Scanning Control tab.
05. Under Scanner Options make sure the following are checked:
a. Close browsers before scanning
b. Scan for tracking cookies
c. Terminate memory threats before quarantining.
d. Please leave the others unchecked.
e. Click the Close button to leave the control center screen.
06. On the main screen, under Scan for Harmful Software click Scan your computer.
07. On the left check C:\Fixed Drive.
08. On the right, under Complete Scan, choose Perform Complete Scan.
09. Click Next to start the scan. Please be patient while it scans your computer.
10. After the scan is complete a summary box will appear. Click OK.
11. Make sure everything in the white box has a check next to it, then click Next.
12. It will quarantine what it found and if it asks if you want to reboot, click Yes.
One thing you might try is if the problem is happening on a regular basis, reboot the computer into safe mode (about the time the power-on self test finished, and you hear a "BEEP" from the computer, before seeing the black "Windows XP" screen, hit the F8 key a number of times, and you'll be presented with a menu. Choose "Safe Mode" (don't use the one with networking, since all of your AV and anti-spyware protection will be disabled), and you'll be running in a minimal "diagnostic" mode. You won't be able to do much on the computer, but if the computer still locks up, there's about a 95% chance that the problem is hardware related. If the problem goes away, there's about a 95% chance that the problem is software related.
Good luck.
Mark
Check your power saver options. I always used to turn off the option to put the hard drives and entire computer to sleep after a time; it gave me similar problems. I would have the computer turn off the monitor, but nothing more.
This is only one of two things.
1. Hardware failure (unlikely) The clock stopping could indicate hardware failure but typically hardware failure causes the computer to just suddenly and without warning reboot.
2. You have some garbage programs in your Startup list (very likely).
click "start / run / (type in) msconfig / Startup" to see the list.
A full explaination with screeshots is here - START-UP APPLICATIONS and a full list of programs is in the list or if you are good in Excel there is the list in Excel format
Don't try to user the other programs listed in the article at first, just stick with msconfig. IF cleaning up the startup list in msconfig does not fix the issue THEN go to the other programs discussed.
I use to have the same problem. I narrowed it down to a 3D graphics conflict between a 3D Screensaver I was using and my ATI Graphics card. Computer got stuck in an “loop”, like the two processes were waiting for the other to respond before engaging.
To maybe get some info, try this:
Right click: My Computer
Left click: Manage
Left click: the ‘+’ sign
Left click: ACEEventlog; Application; etc...
Search for: Any Yellow Warnings or Red X signs.
Left click (possibly double click) to open the event
This should give you some info with possibly a link for more info.
That’s how I tracked my problem.
Hope this helps.
Possible low tech solution here.
Make sure that the heatsink on your cpu is clear of all dust and debris. If you have animals in your home this could be more likely to be your problem.
I have had the same sorts of problems with my comp (3 cats, dusty area, periodic smoking) and those fans and sinks fill up quick. Dust is an amazing insulator.
Hope that helps...JFK
When you say ‘not in use’ does that mean it works ok when you are using it?
When Windows loads up, it uses different parts of memory for it’s operating system and reserves space for programs to run.
It’s possible that you have a faulty memory location that was assigned for the ‘screen saver’ and when the computer goes idle the screen saver activates and ‘locks’ the computer.
I would pull the memory chips, check for dust and then reseat them. Rearranging the chips in different slots then they were previously in.
If this problem persists then pull one memory chip at a time and see if the problem goes away.
If not, then I would suspect that one of Windows programs are corrupt and a reinstall would probably fix it.
It’s a Windows X POS?
bump for publicity
Bookmark Bump. Thanks.