system freezing up

Today I started up my computer and went to Outlook Express to start work. It
froze up immediately. CTRL-ALT-DEL did not work and I finally pushed the
button. Started it back up again. Then tried to do a system maintenance.
During the Scan disk some of the functions wording became overlapped and the
whole window turned a funny transparent purple color. And Defrag started. The
whole desktop was looking funny. I managed to shut down. Waited a while and
tried again. 3rd time and I went into Finepix (foto pgm) and FREEZE up. Had
to manually shut down again. Now in a panic I get computer back on again. Go
into My Documents and manage to successfully copy all fotos onto a CD. Right
now I am online and typing away. But worried ......... what could this be?

My suspicion would be an intermittent hardware problem, possibly RAM, and
possibly due to overheating. But before worrying too much about the detail,
have you since finished backing up everything important?

A comprehensive hardware diagnostic would be the most useful next step.
Your PC supplier may have provided a diagnostic package, or it may be
available at their www site, or you can find diagnostics on the www.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"LUTRA" wrote in message
news
Today I started up my computer and went to Outlook Express to start work.
It
froze up immediately. CTRL-ALT-DEL did not work and I finally pushed the
button. Started it back up again. Then tried to do a system maintenance.
During the Scan disk some of the functions wording became overlapped and
the
whole window turned a funny transparent purple color. And Defrag started.
The
whole desktop was looking funny. I managed to shut down. Waited a while
and
tried again. 3rd time and I went into Finepix (foto pgm) and FREEZE up.
Had
to manually shut down again. Now in a panic I get computer back on again.
Go
into My Documents and manage to successfully copy all fotos onto a CD.
Right
now I am online and typing away. But worried ......... what could this be?

Jeff,
Thank you for your response. We did have a very hot and humid day yesterday.
I have not finished backing up everything but am working on it. My computer
is a DELL. Is there something on their website to help with diagnostics?

"Jeff Richards" wrote:

My suspicion would be an intermittent hardware problem, possibly RAM, and
possibly due to overheating. But before worrying too much about the detail,
have you since finished backing up everything important?

A comprehensive hardware diagnostic would be the most useful next step.
Your PC supplier may have provided a diagnostic package, or it may be
available at their www site, or you can find diagnostics on the www.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"LUTRA" wrote in message
news
Today I started up my computer and went to Outlook Express to start work.
It
froze up immediately. CTRL-ALT-DEL did not work and I finally pushed the
button. Started it back up again. Then tried to do a system maintenance.
During the Scan disk some of the functions wording became overlapped and
the
whole window turned a funny transparent purple color. And Defrag started.
The
whole desktop was looking funny. I managed to shut down. Waited a while
and
tried again. 3rd time and I went into Finepix (foto pgm) and FREEZE up.
Had
to manually shut down again. Now in a panic I get computer back on again.
Go
into My Documents and manage to successfully copy all fotos onto a CD.
Right
now I am online and typing away. But worried ......... what could this be?

"LUTRA" wrote in message
...
Jeff,
Thank you for your response. We did have a very hot and humid day
yesterday.
I have not finished backing up everything but am working on it. My
computer
is a DELL. Is there something on their website to help with diagnostics?

"Jeff Richards" wrote:

My suspicion would be an intermittent hardware problem, possibly RAM,
and
possibly due to overheating. But before worrying too much about the
detail,
have you since finished backing up everything important?

A comprehensive hardware diagnostic would be the most useful next step.
Your PC supplier may have provided a diagnostic package, or it may be
available at their www site, or you can find diagnostics on the www.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"LUTRA" wrote in message
news
Today I started up my computer and went to Outlook Express to start
work.
It
froze up immediately. CTRL-ALT-DEL did not work and I finally pushed
the
button. Started it back up again. Then tried to do a system
maintenance.
During the Scan disk some of the functions wording became overlapped
and
the
whole window turned a funny transparent purple color. And Defrag
started.
The
whole desktop was looking funny. I managed to shut down. Waited a
while
and
tried again. 3rd time and I went into Finepix (foto pgm) and FREEZE
up.
Had
to manually shut down again. Now in a panic I get computer back on
again.
Go
into My Documents and manage to successfully copy all fotos onto a CD.
Right
now I am online and typing away. But worried ......... what could this
be?




a) Friday the 13th. - unlikely.
b) Do you have a PCI graphics card, might be lose in slot - possible?

Regards

"LUTRA" wrote in message
news
Today I started up my computer and went to Outlook Express to start work.
It
froze up immediately. CTRL-ALT-DEL did not work and I finally pushed the
button. Started it back up again. Then tried to do a system maintenance.
During the Scan disk some of the functions wording became overlapped and
the
whole window turned a funny transparent purple color. And Defrag started.
The
whole desktop was looking funny. I managed to shut down. Waited a while
and
tried again. 3rd time and I went into Finepix (foto pgm) and FREEZE up.
Had
to manually shut down again. Now in a panic I get computer back on again.
Go
into My Documents and manage to successfully copy all fotos onto a CD.
Right
now I am online and typing away. But worried ......... what could this be?

a) Its friday the 13th. - unlikely.
b) Do you have a PCI graphics card, it might be lose in the slot - possible?

Regards