Rank: Guru
Rating: 85%, 63 votes
Ok, I question the virus theory due to the fact that your computer is overheating although it isn't impossible. There is a huge possibility that it is hardware failure or error as well. Try the other solution and see if that fixes it. Regardless of whether it does or doesn't, take a look at the hardware components in control panel.
(in case you don't know, here is how to check)
- open control pannel in classic view
- click on administrative tools
- click on computer management
- click on system tools
- click on device manager
In device manager, there is a list of all the components that are possibly in the computer. If you click on them, they will tell you the status and will give you the option to diganose. If you want to do this to the main components such as processor, ram, etc, this might tell you if something is wrong. This is a rare time where I can actually say that it is unfortunate that you do not have vista. It has an extensive testing and report of the system performance that would help you very much. If you don't find anything there, you are very limited in other options. I can take a look and see if I can find anything else that may help you, but unless you want to open your computer up, you would have to get some software that could scan and do a performance check on your computer. Of course, this is assuming it isn't software related such as a virus. If all else fails and this and virus check doesn't work, about all that is left is the repair shop. Well actually, you could always try to whipe your hard drive and start over but that is quite the process and isn't fun at all. Well, I hope that this is a fixya or at least was helpful and informational. If so, please rate well. This is the only way we get paid for free questions like these. :) Have fun!!!!
p.s.
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask me.
