computer randomly locks up

[richardlayne]

This computer I got just randomly locks up for no reason can anyone point me in the right direction? I've ran scandisk and it didn't find any errors with the hard drive. I swapped the memory and thus far I haven't had any problems with it locking up, but still not sure if that took care of the problem.

[osprey4]

How about a few details, such as the system and OS. What programs are running at startup and in the background? Have you made any effort to trim down your startup list yet? This is the most common cause for lockups.

[richardlayne]

My fault it's a compaq presario 7000 US model with an AMD processor running windows 98. Startup is clean. It's got a few things running, but nothing that should cause it to lock up.

[osprey4]

What's running in the background? Any consistent application causing the lockup?

[tradingyamahas]

Hi all!
My computer keeps randomly locking up too. It's a compaq 5000us with AMD processor and WinXP Pro. It was fine for about a month and last week it started just randomly freezing. Sometimes it won't even start at all or it will start then go through scan disk then freeze on the sign on screen, or it will be ok for 10 minutes, an hour whatever THEN freeze! Its driving me batty!!!!!!! Please help.....I am crying now.... if you don't hear back from me for a couple of hours its because this @**&^!#&%^ thing froze again.......

[rrcn]

a psu going bad can also cause it to lock up.

[tradingyamahas]

sorry to sound dumb....but whats a psu?

[rrcn]

its a power supply unit. or just a power supply

[tradingyamahas]

how would i determine if it is going bad?

[rrcn]

If you pull it out and put in a new power supply and the lock ups go away, then you've solved your problem! Your next mission would be to find a power supply that'll fit in your compaq case. You could always just buy a regular atx power supply and just have it sit on the bottom of the case it the case will allow it to. Good luck.