HELP my computer keeps freezing. It will not turn back on no matter what so i have to reboot the whole computer. I have rebooted this computer about 18 times in the past 6 months, im getting very angry as each time i loose all my work and have to install all my programmes again, please help!!

if its 'straight out of the box', return it to vendor

Two important things that you should do to fix a laptop which keeps shutting down are:
1- Scanning computer to eliminate malwares, spywares and the viruses from your laptop.
2- Repairing and cleaning Windows registry.The registry errors, however, are the internal errors and can become a cause of system crashes and freezes.
These two tips are found to be very helpful to fix the laptop shutdown problem. I would recommend to use a system utility tool like Reginout to fix this problem.

Reboot the computer in "Safe" mode and run it for a while and see if the same problems occur. If it doesn't, then I would suspect it is a software and not a hardware problem.

If you think it is a software problem, reboot the computer into safe mode again. Now click the start button and in the search box type MSCONFIG

When the window pops up click the "Selective Startup" button and then on the startup tab. Deselect all the checked boxes, click apply and ok, reboot the computer normally.

Now only the essential services will load and no programs will automatically load. If the computer continues to run normally, then you can go back into MSCONFIG go to the strat tab and start checking a few boxes to start again, like antivirus and malware first. Reboot the computer and see if it freezes with those programs running....if it does then you know one of those is the culprit, if not click a few more on and reboot until you find the trouble software.

Could be a program running in background. Try to go to msconfig ( click on start, run, and type msconfig). On the startup items, disable all and reboot. See if the performance improves. If it does, enable startup program on msconfig one by one and reboot. to check what startup item is causing the slow performance. If it does not improve, might be an unnecessary driver for the system. Reinstall windows xp.

These are the steps that you need to take, and the instructions on how to do it:
1. Reboot into Safemode
2. Run a virus and spyware scanner
3. Defrag
4. Scandisk
5. Registry error repairing
6.Reboot into regular mode windows

Here is how to do it:
Reboot yor machine while holding the F8 key right as it boots back up. A menu will apear. Choose -->"start windows in safe mode with networking".
Windows will start in safe mode. Run an AVG virus scan, then run Defrag by exploring your computer, right click on C: drive, click PROPERTIES, then the TOOLS tab, click the "check now" button, and only checkmark the top box 'fix file system errors', then click ok, the computer will then tell you it will scan upon next reboot., Now click the DEFRAG NOW button. the choose defrag. After Defrag runs for about an hour and it is finished, restart the system. If is still won't run normally, go back into Safemode buy pressing F8 on reboot, then run a registry fixing program such as uniblue registrybooster, then reboot again. If it still won't run right, you may want to reinstall Windows and see if that works. If reinstalling windows doesn't fix it, it is most likely a hardware problem.
PRINT THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND KEEP A COPY NEAR YOUR SYSTEM FOR FUTURE PROBLEMS. THIS SERIES OF STEPS CAN FIX MANY PROBLEMS
Good luck.
James.
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Check that nothing is blocking the laser if your mouse has one. Even a hair can cause it not to function properly. Download and re-install a custom driver for whatever brand of mouse you have. Try the mouse in another system and see if it does it there.

I dont thing this is a virus problem but a heat problem. if you dont mind getting inside the box see how clean it is and put your hand on the power box case .. then unplug all the hardware except the mother board then turn the unit on, if it goes on then plug 1 hardware at a time.

If you save your important information and have all you cd disc to reinstall a fresh o/s. This can change what is happening to you.Some times I just will reinstall it a few times over again just to make me feel better.It seem to run extra fine after that.... thesuperboss

Greetings,
There is no problem with your computer as a whole it is your hardisk that has a problem, It cannot continue installing the system files because an error occur in your hardisk. Format your hardisk with other computer.
If you have an extra hardisk much better.
Thanks

reboot the machine. tap the f8 key and select safe mode. boot into safe mode and see if the computer freezes up again.

in the event it doesnt, you have a bad driver or new software on the drive. to correct this go to gateway.com select your model and download any recent updates including the bios. also uninstall any new service packs or software you had loaded recently.

reboot machine and see if you have the same error.

if this continues or it froze in safemode you could have two problems,

1. Corrupt OS files, the fix: Restore Machine after backing up data.
2. GPU having issues and heating up to the point it turns off, the fix: Local repair shop or Gateway replace mobo or local repair shop reflow board.

Let me know what you try and what works! Good Luck!

Ruben