No mouse movement, no keyboard, no Task Manager. The screen just freezes up with no BSOD. When I try to reset, it wouldn't boot up properly 'til I shut off my main power supply and then switch it on again.

I haven't installed any new software recently (and I don't have Norton Antivirus), so I figured it must be a hardware problem. I checked the MOBO to see if it has any burns and/or scratches. Nothing. RAM and HDDs are fine as well, so I just cleaned off the dust with a soft brush.

Now I'm running a stress test to see how long 'til it hangs up again.

Specs:
Microsoft Windows XP Professional version 2002 Service Pack 3
Intel Pentium 4 CPU 2.00GHz
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
1GB DDR RAM

You know what they say; don't judge a book by its cover.
It definitely sounds like some piece of hardware is near the end of its lifetime. If you want to test that theory you could reformat and set Windows up again. If the freezes still happen, then we know for sure whether it is software or hardware related.

And if it turns out it is hardware related, finding out which part is dying can be done by replacing each part one by one and see how it changes the system's overall stability. Another method is to stress test the hardware, such as using memtest for testing memory, manufacturer's software for scanning hard drive for errors, etc.

I have experienced freezes like the one you are describing on my mediacenter. It is, for me, the old intel celeron processor freezing up. Not sure if your CPU is causing the probs but I hope this helps.

From your specs it seems like it could be. The pentium 4 is how old? Also your RAM is the same amount as mine.

Yeah, it is possible, a Pentium CPU can be used to heat up a house.

But since you mentioned RAM, why does it say 2.00 GHz next to the amount? There is no such thing as 2 GHz sys. memory.

Heh, I just copied it from the My Computer -> properties. My bad.

I had a similar problem with mine, here is some bits i did and it started to work again. (probably just a fluke)

If its a laptop then pick up and shake it (tells you if there are any loose connections (would work for a desktop in theory, but you do look silly shaking a box above your head whilst it is on)

Download "AutorunEater", it picks up viruses that most antivirus programs miss (It is amazing, and Free!)

Clean the fan out. If one part or another is overheating it may not be that part's problem (happened on my Dads Desktop, my dad and my uncle (both computer wizes) couldn't figure out why it was ridiculously slow, the RAM chip (or something like that, can't remember what it was) was overheating and I just leaned over both of them, picked up the fan (yes, they dissassembled the whole thing by then) and blew into it and shed loads of dust flew off, they started it up and it worked (I teased them a lot)

Hope that any of the above helps (as I already said it is probably just a fluke that mine is working but hey, its worth a try)

Raziel

P.S I know this is going to sound silly but you have removed all disks from the CD/DVD drive of the PC? XP sometimes thinks that some CDs are boot CDs (especially Sims 2)

My old computer was doing things like that when the power supply was burning up (that is a terrible smell) Keep an eye on all the parts and such and make sure nothing is gettin to hot.

A bad power supply can kill hardware, sometimes brutally.

one of mine nearly gave me a VERY premature death when I was six (of heart attack)

My 'phones didn't want to work so I went behind the computer to plug them in and the PSU exploded IN MY FACE!!! I blew the whole house fuse and my GPU, MOBO and HD. But mostly I lost any confidence with a powered up computer.

You were playing around with a computer's insides at the age of 6?

I was... but then again it was due to my oldest brother taking his apart to fix it that I started... I still don't know how to put one back together! XD

Raziel

P.S at the mo' I'm fixing a laptop which refuses to believe that it has a harddrive
*looks at laptop, considering throwing it out of a window*

Uhh... I think I'm in the clear now...

Remember that dust-cleaning I did? Since then, I've had 3 successful boot-ups with no succeeding hangs/freezes.

I'm on my 4th now... Pray it goes safely.

Raziel

P.S I don't know!