OT: My computer is randomly freezing

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Nope - Currently 99% idle. Although I could just sit there and watch the processes...If I get that desperate.

Nope, good idea, thanks.

[Azselendor]

Things to try:

1.) boot into safe mode and see if it happens.
2.) create a new user profile and log into that and see if it happens
3.) Roll your system back and see if that fixes it.
4.) Check for dust and lint buildup inside the CPU (sounds like this isn't an issue if you were checking for power)
5.) check cable connections for a loose one
6.) check msconfig via the run start menu item for programs.

My computers periodically lock up at random due to 5 programs I have that love to piss away memory.
1.) Firefox 2
2.) Safari (leaks memory like the ocean leaking into the titanic)
3.) Open Office's background soffice.bin process
4.) Linksys wireless monintor program.
5.) google desktop

[Ed Kolis]

Perhaps your RAM has gone bad - have you tried running memtest?

[capnq]

I've been getting similar behavior from XP Pro. I think I've tracked it down to a dodgy subpackage in my ISP's software that keep leaving multiple hung copies of one process in Task Manager.

Can you do a manual Shut Down/Restart from the Start menu, before the system has hung? The error message I get from attempting that is how I narrowed the problem down to the particular process.