On Fri, 18 Apr 2008 08:37:36 -0400, jgulow@webtv.net (John
the WebTV Man) wrote:

>OK...how about an old [maybe not that old] computer problem? I am
>prepping a Compaq Presario 5000 [700 MHz, 256Mb RAM, Win2K Pro] for my
>son-in-law. Everything runs good, all loaded with all the needed Win2K
>updates, Office 2K, IE/OE6, etc]...but it has a problem!! After about an
>hour using the Internet, it freezes...no Mouse, no Keyboard, no response
>at all...last screen fully visible, PC fans and power supply still
>running.

See if the problem persists using a different browser, for
example Firefox if it was using IE or vice-versa.

Try updating the video driver, get it from the respective
chipset manufacturer instead of Compaq.



>Strangely, it is apparently NOT a thermal/time problem as it
>can sit for hours downloading Internet updates, but only seems to happen
>with changing screens, pages, clicking links, etc.

That doesn't necessarily mean anything, downloading internet
updates doesn't take as much processing power as playing
many of today's scripted or Flash enabled webpages.
However, if no fans have failed, the system is not clogged
with dust, and operated in a typical climate controlled
room, there is no reason to think that now suddenly it would
start overheating - unless it had poor heatsink grease that
degraded drastically over time. If all else fails, pop the
CPU 'sink off, clean off original thermal interface material
and put a fresh clean coat of (whatever, even generic
silicon grease would suffice for a 700MHz CPU). If it is a
slotted type CPU with a cartridge instead of socketed, leave
it alone it is not likely to have this problem from the
factory build and thermal interface.


>The only problem that
>I seem to have noted is that a lot of the PC functions are using the
>same IRQ11 [a problem?]. Any ideas on what to look for and how to
>identify the problem? TIA...John

That's not likely to be the problem. Examine the
motherboard around the CPU socket region for failed
capacitors (domed tops or leaky residue on tops or bottoms)
and likewise in the PSU (after leaving it unplugged from AC
for a few minutes). If you have a spare PSU, try it.

Also check Windows Event Viewer, and if nothing else seems
the problem, run the hard drive manufacturer's diagnostics
and inspect the open system's cards, cables, etc.

I would place odds on it being the PSU, but other faults are
possible.