Computer keeps 'freezing'

hi,
I can be doing anything on my computer such as being on the web or even just have it turned on to the desktop and erything just freezes.

Ctrl alt and del doesn't work and the mouse arrow on the screen just turns in to a, well I don't know what you call it but it looks like the letter 'I' and is the same thing you see when you press in this box and the same mouse pointer you see when typing in ms word.

I then have no option but to turn the power off on my computer. When I turn the power back on sometimes I will get the intel logo and the start up will go no further, othertimes I will get the intel logo then the screen will turn all black as if the monitor is switched off and nothing will happen othertimes I will get the message that windows was shut down unexpectedly (or something like that) and do I want to start windows normally etc then when I select whatever option nothing happens. And finally I will get to the windows screen that appears just before I see the desktop (the one with the moving bar to show loading) and then that will freeze.

After turning the power on and off a lot of times eventually I will get to the desktop but it is only a matter of time before the problem begins again.

It seems to freeze quicker if I turn the computer on and just leave it for a bit on the desktop without starting any programs.

Also I have tried to download adaware 4 times and everytime I do try the computer freezes (haven't tried to download anything else).

Please could someone offer me some help.

Thanks
Rob

 

Suggest you try starting in safe mode or last good configuration from the menu obtained by tapping F8 after the beep when booting and before the windows screen appears. Let us know what happens.
See (click on) Microsoft and look at the related topics at the bottom of the page.

 

hi,
I have tried last good configuration and it just paused on that screen and didn't move anywhere.

I have managed to download adaware by runnning it instead of saving it first when downloading and have run it (used to freeze everytime when saving it to disk)- but the problem persists.

A lot of the time now I get a problem when shutting down the computer. The 'windows is shutting down' screen appears and then it gets stuck on that.

A few weeks ago I tried for about 45 mins to start up the computer by switching it on and off when it froze during start up but eventually gave up trying. I tried again first thing i the morning and it started up and got to the desktop first time - weird! - could this be overheating?

Is there anything else I should do?

Thanks

 

I think u should attempt to format and reinstall windows...Let us know the outcome

 

It could be having trouble communicating with a piece of hardware. I would open the case, pull out and reseat all the connectors (especially the connections to the drives). Avoid touching the electronic components.

Have you added any hardware since the problem has started?

If it gets to and works fine in Safe Mode, that would point to a hardware/driver problem or software that is running in the background during normal operation.

In Safe Mode, run checkdisk set to "thorough ". Do a disk cleanup and defrag. [EDIT: also check in Device Manager that no problems are listed]

You can run programs that do not depend on drivers in Safe Mode, so run AdAware and Spybot there.

You can check the temperatures by looking in the BIOS settings at startup. Depending on components, temperatures much higher than 40*C would make me investigate. Loosen the dust with a soft brush, take the case outside and blow the dust out (you can purchase cans of compressed air at electronics stores). Run with the cover off the case. Check fans are spinning freely.

After that I might possibly suspect a power supply (PSU) problem. If you have added much hardware the power supply may be at it's limit.

If the problem relates to hardware, changes in software will not cure it.

Matt