On Jan 14, 2:42 pm, Colin Wilson
o.uk wrote:
Thanks, I will try your suggestions. And if it don't work it will be
dismantled and disposed of.

No need to dispose of it just yet - there are a couple of other things
to try too, to help determine whether it's a software or hardware
issue.

a) try a live linux CD, and see if it keels over as often

b) is the CPU fan actually spinning ?

c) unplug and replug every "major" connection on the motherboard - the
contacts shouldn't oxidise, but if it's just a crap connection, this
might sort it

d) run memtest86 on it (there are two variants from competing
suppliers, one of whom has a paid-for version available too) - you can
usually tell within a few seconds if the memory is flaky !

For strange hardware problems / lock-ups, (d) might be a smart first
choice :-)

a) no

b) yes

c) done

d) big hassle to get to work, easier to just smash computer.