Computer Constantly Locks Up

[CVitanza]

Since Today (Dec 2 2002) I have had to hard boot my system 3 times. And it locked up on me 4 times today. I get into a program and in a few seconds later, the computer freezes up all together to the point that the mouse don't even move. This happened to me 3 times today.

I have a HP Pavillion (An Older version). I aslo have one other major problem. Currently, I have a .SYS error (The error is a transfer error.) occurring on the computer as well when I loaded the latest version McAfee beofre I swtiched to Norton System Works 2002.
I 'm wondering if one or more of these occurred:

1. The .SYS error is screwing up the whole machine becasue we haven't fixed that error yet.

2. A virus could of accidently been downloaded

3. We could need to update the comupter's hardware and some of the software is not agreeing with the hardware.

4. I haven't been on the system since Thanksgiving and its used to being on everyday once in a while I find that if I don't go in the system for a long time it freezes up.

5. Some of the software not agreeing with Windows 98

Would in the recovery disk that HP gives with their systems cause more damage to the system or would it help the system.

[Spider]

Hi CVitanza, welcome to Cyber Tech Help.

Get over to Trend (the makers of PC-Cillin virus checker) (http://housecall.trendmicro.com) and run
a free virus check.

As far as the error is concerned, you'll have to post the error word
for word and post it here, then we can help you more on that.

If you haven't updated Windows 98 then I suggest you get over
there and do that.

You probably have spyware all over the computer and it's effecting
the performance more than anything else. You'll need to install a free
spyware killer to get it all out. Download and install Ad-aware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/downloads.html) and
the RefUpdate for Ad-aware as well. You want...
Ad-aware 5.83 Final (Full Install) 871 kb
and
RefUpdate 2.01 for Ad-aware 411 kb

First make sure you run the RefUpdate 2.01 and update Ad-aware
with the latest files. Click on the Connect(button) it will
download the latest data files.

Then run Ad-aware
in the left side where it says Sections to scan:
select Scan Memory, Scan Registry, Scan Drives C (fixed) <-- only
then click the Scan now(button)
when it's done scanning
click Continue(button)
right-mouse click (in the list pane anywhere) and from the menu select
(with your left-mouse button) Check all
click the Continue(button)
a conformation will popup asking Remove the selected components from your system?
click the OK(button)
it will the popup Cleaning finished.
click the OK(button)

[lneilson]

You can try this:

Start/programs/accessories/systemtools/systeminformation/tools/systemfilechecker


and restore any corrupt files

lneilson