I am running XP Pro SP2. User will be working on the PC, then the system
will lock up, blanking the screen, and all of the lights on the PC, including
the disk access light, power light and CD access light will light up. I am
not able to do anything with the system at this point, can't use the power
switch to shut it off, and must unplug the power cord to stop it. I tried to
reload XP Pro, and get through about 3/4 of the install when it does this
same thing again. Is this a hardware problem and if so, how do I check it
out???

Please provide copies of all Error and Warning Reports appearing in
the System and Application logs in Event Viewer for the time when the
error occurs. No Information Reports please.

You can access Event Viewer by selecting Start, Control Panel,
Administrative Tools, and Event Viewer. When researching the meaning
of the error, information regarding Event ID, Source and Description
are important.

HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427/en-us

Part of the Description of the error will include a link, which you
should double click for further information. You can copy using copy
and paste. Often the link will, however, say there is no further
information.
http://go.microsoft.com/fw.link/events.asp
(Please note the hyperlink above is for illustration purposes only)

A tip for posting copies of Error Reports! Run Event Viewer and double
click on the error you want to copy. In the window, which appears is a
button resembling two pages. Click the button and close Event
Viewer.Now start your message (email) and do a paste into the body of
the message. Make sure this is the first paste after exiting from
Event Viewer.


--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Hawkeye46 wrote:
> I am running XP Pro SP2. User will be working on the PC, then the
> system will lock up, blanking the screen, and all of the lights on
> the PC, including the disk access light, power light and CD access
> light will light up. I am not able to do anything with the system at
> this point, can't use the power switch to shut it off, and must
> unplug the power cord to stop it. I tried to reload XP Pro, and get
> through about 3/4 of the install when it does this same thing again.
> Is this a hardware problem and if so, how do I check it out???

Sounds like hardware.....I suggest to replace the power supply. If that does
not work then try video and motherboard.


"Hawkeye46" wrote:

> I am running XP Pro SP2. User will be working on the PC, then the system
> will lock up, blanking the screen, and all of the lights on the PC, including
> the disk access light, power light and CD access light will light up. I am
> not able to do anything with the system at this point, can't use the power
> switch to shut it off, and must unplug the power cord to stop it. I tried to
> reload XP Pro, and get through about 3/4 of the install when it does this
> same thing again. Is this a hardware problem and if so, how do I check it
> out???

You can try running the computer from a "live" Linux CD. There are a number
of them available that you can download a disc image and burn to cd...
Ubuntu and Knoppix versions for example. Some others may include diagnostic
software. See here:

http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php

The advantage is there is no OS installation required, just boot from the
CD. If the problem is hardware it should show up again when you try to run
the alternate operating system.


"Hawkeye46" <Hawkeye46@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E1C3D826-2D0E-4389-8F4C-B3F54452FCCB@microsoft.com...
>I am running XP Pro SP2. User will be working on the PC, then the system
> will lock up, blanking the screen, and all of the lights on the PC,
> including
> the disk access light, power light and CD access light will light up. I
> am
> not able to do anything with the system at this point, can't use the power
> switch to shut it off, and must unplug the power cord to stop it. I tried
> to
> reload XP Pro, and get through about 3/4 of the install when it does this
> same thing again. Is this a hardware problem and if so, how do I check it
> out???

Hawkeye46 wrote:
> I am running XP Pro SP2. User will be working on the PC, then the
> system will lock up, blanking the screen, and all of the lights on
> the PC, including the disk access light, power light and CD access
> light will light up. I am not able to do anything with the system at
> this point, can't use the power switch to shut it off, and must
> unplug the power cord to stop it. I tried to reload XP Pro, and get
> through about 3/4 of the install when it does this same thing again.
> Is this a hardware problem and if so, how do I check it out???

Think heat.