random computer freezes

[jra64]

my computer has recently started freezing up. Mostly whenever i start to do multi-tasking like alt+tab out of a game. It used to freeze on startup but i disabled most of my programs and that fixed the problem. I have a pretty good rig so i dont think its because of a lack of hardware.

When it freezes it REALLY freezes. I cant ctrl+alt+delte. I cant move my mouse. I cant use the keyboard to navigate. All sound stops. I cant even see the state of caps lock or num lock changing on my keyboard.

any ideas?

[Cricket]

Check your CPU and system temps.

Open the case and see if the inside of your computer is really dusty. If it is, you need to give your computer a good cleaning. Clean the heatsinks and fans and the power supply air vents. Then remove the front of your case and see if the air vents in the front are clogged with dust.

Do you have any case fans installed?

What brand and wattage is the power supply?

Have you scanned for viruses, trojans, hijackers and spyware with updated definitions recently?

What kind of background programs are running on your computer?

When this first started, was it right after you installed anything (hardware or software)? Anything at all.

Cricket

[jra64]

ok ive been looking around and im finding that my motherboard the abit ic7 has problems with their NB fans. Before this started happening I cleaned out all the dust out of my computer because it was making all types of noise.

Should i just buy a new NB fan?
Is there something i can do do make this NB fan work better?

I opened up my hardware doctor and every once in a while it says my 3.3v voltage is low. It is staying around 2.90V i dont know if this is low or what. How can i fix this? Is it even a problem? I also noticed that you can set the paramaters for the alarms. Where can i find how my voltages should be?

As for your questions:

Do you have any case fans installed?
Yes one on the side panel in the middle

What brand and wattage is the power supply?
im not sure of the brand but i think it's a 350 watt. Ill try to check b4 next post

Have you scanned for viruses, trojans, hijackers and spyware with updated definitions recently?
Yes i scanned with AVG / ad-aware

What kind of background programs are running on your computer?
i try to run nothing but windows most of the time

When this first started, was it right after you installed anything (hardware or software)? Anything at all.
It started freezing after i tried to stop the noise by cleaning all the dust out.

[jra64]

any ideas?

[amigo]

Have you tried checking add-on cards, connectors, socketed chips for possible loose connections?

[rjfvillarosa]

Originally Posted by jra64 When this first started, was it right after you installed anything (hardware or software)? Anything at all. It started freezing after i tried to stop the noise by cleaning all the dust out.

Looks like you may have dislodged something or loosened a cable, try checking the security of all your cards and cables, remove them, give the contacts a little clean with isopropyl alchohol and replace them nice and snug and firm.