PC freezes 30 secs after power up - cannot use Boot disks

This is my mom's PC - I imagine that it is registered as she was getting scheduled updates from Microsoft site. It came pre-installed with a factory version of XP - I am unable to access CD drive from her PC and when I pop it in - there is no autostart action going on - and if there was - the PC is freezing before it can read the drive.

If I went out and bought a new XP Home CD - would it install automatically? - could it bypass the freeze?
and would there be registration issues?

What would cause the freeze is it a hardware issue?
Can I buy a replacement part(other than buying a new hardrive) or is it strictly a software issue?

can you boot from a floppy disk? when you switch the pc on do you get any messages on the screen, does it make any beeps?

I get 2 beeps - no error msgs - starts loading as if
everything is fine - I cannot get to a C: prompt
to perform anything and yes it attempts to read from the A drive if I put in a floppy but as soon as it starts reading and performing boot from A: it completely freezes at whatever screen happens to be present after about 30seconds.

It Freezes when I select boot from F8 menu
It Freezes when setup menu appears on BIOS setup
If I don't interract and just let it go -
It goes to Scandisk until about 30pct and freezes at point of error msgs described above.
If I escape Scandisk the XP logon apears like normal
but as soon as I try to use kybrd or mouse to select
logon or shutdown access - it freezes.

Sorry to say that your computer is almost certainly failing what is called POST. This means that you have a hardware fault. POST is the basic system check and bleeps are not good news.
I would start by changing the mouse and the keyboard. After that remove any unnecessary slot cards e.g. internal modem, sound card etc.

If none of those clear the fault then you have to consider the motherboard, CPU (unlikely) memory (also unlikely)

It could also be the hard drive but that is also unlikely, you would get a different error if that were the case. From your statement that it freezes when you touch the keyboard it is likely to be in that area, Coke, tea, coffee has not been split on it has it?

First, Thank You, I have never tried this board before and I am completely impressed with your quick responses. I have been working on this off and on for 3wks - and I walk away for a couple of days when I can't take it anymore which is why I decided to seek online help.

I did replace the mouse and keyboard to no avail.
And, No, nothing was spilled on the Kybrd or mouse.
I'll try removing the modem card and reboot then try the sound card etc. and pray that it works.

If none of these are suspect - is the pc toast?
Can I bypass POST system check or download something to fix it?

I think you are not alone with this matter. I received the same messages when I recently had additional memory installed on my computer. One of the memory slots in my motherboard can't lock down one of my memory cards.

Although I got the full 1Gigabyte of physical memory, seems that when a memory module is not seated well, chances are you'll be getting a ton of errors.

Check your memory if it's seated well. If possible, remove, then reinsert one of them(if you have two of them), then turn on your computer. Do not cancel chkdsk or scandisk for that matter, and let Windows launch. If it takes too long to boot up the computer (5-6 minutes to boot up is ok, including scandisk), turn off the computer and change your memory (If you only have one memory module installed, borrow one from a friend ).

If this doesn't work, you have a completely different problem with mine.

Good luck.

Thanks to ALL for the tips - opened her up - disconnected everything - started reconnecting
and found the culprit.

The factory installed mount on the fan was broken.
The heat sync adhesive had finally worn out and the
fan was not secured tight to the board.
It had to have been shipped to me this way as the
broken plastic mount pieces are nowhere to be found.
Had to get creative and use plastic bag ties to tighten connection until I can get a replacement part.

Go figure - I still get 2 beeps at 3 second interval
on boot up but no error msgs and no freezing.
Seems to work fine.

Hope that doesn't mean there is another problem lurking!

Glad you found the culpit. I suggest you look for multiple mount HSF. These have a rather large clip, instead of 1-ear on each side being used, it uses all ears on each side to mount with thier clip, thus broken ears won't matter. Further, if doing this or any other HSF setup to buy, remove the old compound and use new compound instead. Compound is heatsink glop rather than thermal pad used with orginal cpu install. Also, if your mtrbd. has 4-holes at cpu mount through it, that suggests a "screw-down type" HSF can be used. Google for new HSF setups, there are so many out there it isn't funny, try here for a quick peek:
http://www.pccasegear.com or any other websites

good luck -----Willy

a complex problem.

Your only reason to be seen in the Newbies forum, now, is to help others. LOL