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Recenlly xp has been unexpectedly locking up --it refuses to accept mouse or keyboard input and requires that I cut power and reboot. it variably reboots or requires disc review before rebooting. What is happening?
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can be offered is a heat related diagnosis. Try running the machine with the side panel off.
1: Look at Processor cooling. Is the Heatsink clean or clogged.
2: Is the fan turning or turning slow.
3: If your system has temp displayed in BIOS or at boot what is the temp?
4: As noted in previous post, with the cover off and usually good idea to blow inside with a large fan, does the problem go away?
5: Case fans - are they turning?
6: Power supply fan: Is it turning? Is air coming out of the PSU and is it hot, warm or cool?
7: Look at mainboard capcitors, they are the cylinders standing on end. They should be shiny , flat and clean on top. If any of them are bulging or have brown/tan liquid or crusty matter on top, they are leaking and you need a new mainboard.
8: Get memtest, make a floppy and test your ram for several hours to see if there are errors.
9:These are hardware possibles, first did you check for spyware/virus?
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