computer freezes

I have Dell 8400 Desktop running windows xp with 2 GB of RAM, i have 120gb ssd drive.

Recently i started getting these problems:

1.
Some time at the start the fan starts blowing at high speed and the screen is completly blank. I have to turn off power to fix this
2.
Some times it starts loading operating system but it freezes in the middle of loading OS, have to restart computer
3,
Some times it will loAD EVERYTHING AND WORK GOOD FOR 15 MIN. AND THE FREEZES. Again I have to restart computer.

Can any one help me???????????

 

In addition to DavidGP's suggestion, be aware that it could also be a hardware issue. For example, do you know the fan is on all the time and speeds up from a steady speed?

Do you have any application to measure your CPU and hard drive temps? If so, what are they reading? If not try SIW (System Information for Windows - https://www.google.com/url?q=http:/...ds-cse&usg=AFQjCNHFy37DU9pPpnRSNoK4q90bOljVSA). Once opened, look under Hardware | Sensors for the temps. Specifically, look at the core temps for your CPU. What are those numbers and what CPU do you have?

If it is a hardware problem, a crash could happen at any time, so make sure you have your data (at a minimum) backed up, preferably to an external hard drive or flash drive. If you have any special programs, for whatever reason, back those up as well. For that matter, if you have a spare hard drive, you could try cloning your hard drive(s) - I recommend either Keriver 1-Click Restore Free for backing up your system drive, or EaseUS Todo Backup software for cloning (imaging) hard drives.

If you need help with either of these things, post here and I'll try to assist.

 

I've run into alot of old Dells, and this could be the PSU, or the board itself.

Have you looked at the capacitors? Are they "bubbled" at the top, or flat?

 

I've run into alot of old Dells, and this could be the PSU, or the board itself.

Have you looked at the capacitors? Are they "bubbled" at the top, or flat?
I donot see any bubbles

Do you have any application to measure your CPU and hard drive temps? If so, what are they reading? If not try SIW (System Information for Windows - https://www.google.com/url?q=http://...NoK4q90bOljVSA). Once opened, look under Hardware | Sensors for the temps. Specifically, look at the core temps for your CPU. What are those numbers and what CPU do you have?
No I can not run any application because it freezes in the middle of aqpplication.

What Service Pack is your XP at?

Computer Name: Dell 8400

Operating System: Windows XP
OS Data Width. - Not Specified
Ver. - (Home)
Service Pack - (2)
Computer Make: DEll
Model - (8400)
Processor: pentium 4
Processor Speed: 3 GHz.
Memory: 2.5 GB.
Hard Drive: 1600 MB.
Screen Resolution: Not Specified by Not Specified
Web Browser: Not Specified
E-Mail Client: Not Specified


Fans blowing at a high rate are normally attributable to high CPU usage and in that you have to narrow down apps that could be causing this, to either run Process Explorer or Task Manager to find the app that's causing your PC to crash/stall.

I can not narrow down the apps because computer freezes in minute time
I would be booting in to safe mode with networking to see if your PC works ok in that mode, if it does then a 3rd party app is the cause of your issue.

Same thing happens in safe mode, freezes in one minutes


Now new devolopment:

As soon as I turn computer on the monitor remaains blank no image of any kind, just blank, Checked power and connection it is ok

 

That things seem to be going downhill for you, I'm beginning to suspect a major hardware failure - like a motherboard failure. Can you tell if your computer seems to be booting - even though the screen is blank, do you hear the sounds of a normal boot process, or is it silent except for the fan noise?

BTW, with your computer noon-operational, how are you able to post here? Can you use that computer to test out your 'broken' computer?

 

Can you tell if your computer seems to be booting - even though the screen is blank, do you hear the sounds of a normal boot process, or is it silent except for the fan noise?

Yes I can hear some sound at the start but then it goes away and the fan starts blowing. May be computer stop booting.

The board in which monitor plugs in has a heat sink and it is warm.


BTW, with your computer noon-operational, how are you able to post here? Can you use that computer to test out your 'broken' computer?[/QUOTE]

I have a laptop computer to comunicate. my desk top is the one has problem.

How do I use my laptop to test broken desk top?

 

Maybe others will have different suggestions, but It sounds to me like a motherboard failure, which only a tech person with test equipment can determine - unless you have a spare motherboard you can swap for it....

If you have the right VGA cable, try hooking up your monitor to the laptop, that'll make sure the monitor itself is working. I'm not sure what else a laptop can test out from a desktop. Was kind of hoping you had a spare desktop that you could test components out on, but....

I think its time you consider taking the computer to a repair shop. Sorry, not sure what else I can offer.

 

Frys electronic has Dell with g465 processor, 500GB h/d/ 2GB ram for $277.00
Should I buy this?

 

Monitor works ok when connected to laptop

 

Well, at least you know the monitor works; and given the other symptoms, I'd wager its a motherboard issue. BUT, 1) it would cost money to find out; 2) even if its the motherboard, that doesn't mean there aren't other problems as well; and 3) whether the computer at Fry's is a good deal or not is very hard to say from where I sit.

For example, my motherboard blew out and the cost of replacing it and the processor and the video card was about the same as buying a new computer. But given the other components in my original computer, versus what was being offered in the new computer, made me stick with my original computer and have it repaired.

Factors to consider, what is the power supply in the new computer versus what you have in your broken computer? Similarly, how does the video, hard drive size and RAM compare? Does the new computer come with an operating system, and if so is it the one you want (remember that XP will be dead in a year)? And if you buy the new computer, can you transfer your SSD drive to it? Lastly, look at the warranty. A repair job will probably have a 90 day labor warranty plus the part warranty; a new computer will probably have a 1 yr warranty on parts and maybe labor.

You need to evaluate these items in order to make the best informed decision you can. I hope this helps you out.

BearPup

 

here is whaqt I will get from Frys for $277

Specifications
Processor Intel Celeron G465 processor
Operating System Windows 8 Home, English
Memory 2GB SDRAM at 1600MHz -1X2G
Video Graphics Intel® HD Integrated Graphics
Hard Drive 500GB HD, 3.5", 7200rpm, SATA
Multimedia Drive DVD+/-RW Tray Load Drive, 16X,
Media Card Reader 8-in-1 Media Card Reader and USB 3.0
Bluetooth Bluetooth - No
Display No Monitor
Fax/Data Modem HDMI - Yes
Wireless Connectivity Dell DW1506 (802.11 b/g/n) WLA
Audio Integrated 5.1 Audio / No Speakers
Keyboard Dell USB Entry Keyboard - English
Pointing Device Dell USB Optical Mouse (Wired)
Warranty and Support 1Yr In-Home Warranty
Software 1 McAfee 30 Day Trial
Software 2 Microsoft Office Trial [ITRLW8]
Software 5 CMS - Cyberlink Media Suite Essentials

 

I'm uncomfortable making a recommendation as I don't know you, what your interests are, what you want out of a computer, etc. For me, the system that you describe doesn't interest me as it has Windows 8, which I loathe. I also know that I could do "better" - at least 4 GB of RAM and a 64 Bit Win 7 OS online at some place like Newegg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ... 4018&IsNodeId=1&name=$200 - $300&Order=PRICE). TigerDirect is another national chain you could check out (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/guidedSearch.asp?CatId=6&sel=Price;Price5).

I'd also be willing to go Refurbished as long as the warranty was the same as a new machine. And being able to upgrade it would also be important to me. I don't know how you feel about any of these things. Sorry, that's the best I can do for you.

Keep us posted as to what you decide to do.

 

Could be your SSD causing the issues. After so many hours many of them require a firmware flash or the computer loses contact with the drive and crashes, freezes, reboots or doesn't boot at all. I learned this one the hard way. If you have one, try another hard drive for hits & giggles.

 

I have regular h/d with operating systems, I tried unpluging SSD and pluging regular h/D. Same problem. Fan starts blowing up at very high speed, monitor blank.

Any other suggestions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I am no computer tech I promise, but could this be a faulty sensor? Just curious to know if a sensor could be misreading the temperature and passing it to the system which then turns the fan on full speed and crashes the processor.

If I were looking for a PC under $300, I would establish what I MUST have on the PC before buying (hardware and software). Maybe you could spend $400 and get a core 2 duo rig or a quad core one with Microsoft Office on the machine, etc.

For $300, I think you can do much better than the system you posted though...

 

The systems fail after updating drives, before that it will start and function for a while and then freeze.

Thinking to buy this:

Hp pro3500 d8s40ut#Aba desktop pantium G870 3.1 GHz 4gb ddr3, 500 GB HDD, DVDRW, windows 7 loaded and windows 8 cd comes with systems keyboard mouse. for $400,00 out the door.

 

That sounds like a better deal to me. You get well over double the performance from this processor and double the RAM (and it's DDR3) for just the extra hundred dollars.

It's worth spending the extra money up front considering how long you will have the PC...

Sorry I don't have an answer for your problem. I'm not an expert, but my guess (total guess) is that you could have a bad sensor. Sounds like almost anything you try activates the response from the computer. I haven't seen, but I have heard that that's how PCs respond when they are overheating. This is the reason for the faulty sensor guess...