computer lock ups

dont know if this belongs here or in software. pc locks up.mouse and keyboard still work but when i double click something i get an hourglass and then nothing . resetting it fixes the problem but its happening at random.specs are below and i'm running xp pro fully updated and all the latest bios and drivers.
temps right after lock-up 33c cpu , 29c mobo ,and 40c gpu. also on restart i have to go to device manager and go to usb and have it scan for changes to detect my usb modem at a loss here any help would be appreciated.

 

could be spyware/malware or your RAM

Also could you be a little more specific about when it crashes? Like does it only do it on certain types of files, etc.

 

ran memtest overnight with no errors only happens on rare occasions with no set program running ran virus and spyware at a loss for what it could be last time it happened i had task manager open and cpu usage was at approx 3%. any other ideas? going bonkers here

 

I'm still stuck on the RAM thing, have you tried reseating them? used only one at a time? in each socket? loosening up the timings? or setting it to run by the SPD?

If I set my RAM at 2225 my system is completely unstable, but memtest runs without any errors reported. ALthough I have seen it detect bad RAM before it is not a fool-proof test.

You could try sisoft sandra, the suite has a lot of benchmarks and stress tests. You might find the problem with that.

 

Have a look in control panel\admin tools\event viewer for the last event before the lockup might give you a clue,it looks like a software or hardrive prob to me,if you dont have any luck with pirates suggestions,try doing a defrag and run diskcheck if you havnt for a while

 

Did you make any system changes or install any software shortly before the problem started appearing? If yes -- what?

Without some information about your system, you're more likely to get guesses than real help here. Read the Announcement at the top of this forum and give us at least some of the information set out there.

 

thanks ricki forgot about the event log found it there says userenv 1517 says unable to dismount profile also has a fix listed and thankx for the other replies also pyrate and rob.m
P.S. rob.m i did have specs in sig and os listed as sticky at top of forum suggested just couldnt describe problem well

 

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;837115

that help you?

 

yup thats the one i downloaded uphclean see if that fixes it still a newb at this but I'm getting there

 

dont worry, the hard part with computers is getting started once your up and going each problem seems to come a little easier

 

Oops -- sorry, ibbonkers. I hadn't read far enough to see your sig block and was in too much of a hurry. As for describing the problem -- well, that's the hard part. It takes practice. Hopefully you'll never have enough problems to get good at it!

 

each build has its own quirks this one was just one of those wierd ones. only a month old or so and games excellently had an intel 3.4 gig with this same video card and some games just stuttered for no reason. no more intel for me