Hello,Thank you for responding to this problem alert. I realize this is an age old problem and you are probably sick of replying to it. But, here goes.I have a Compaq Presario M2000 laptop running Windows XP home. The system has a working CD drive.The laptop was working fine until a month ago. Then it began to lockup randomly after about 5 to 10 minutes of use. The cursor freezes, the keyboard freezes, the caps lock button doesn’t work nor does Ctrl/alt/delete work. I initially thought the problem was over heating. I installed a new cooling fan which does work better than the old one. I have repartitioned the hard drive and reloaded XP using the recovery disks that came with this LT. I replaced the RAM chips with a set of chips from another working Presario M2000 LT. I also purchased and installed a new hard drive and loaded XP using the recovery disks from my wife’s Presario M2000 LT. I have not loaded any other software. There are no peripherals connected to the LT. I ran the "Dr. Watson" diagnostic tool that is built into the Compaq software. It didn’t show any application errors.So far nothing I did has made an improvement. The LT still locks up after several minutes. However, it did run continuously for about 1.5 hours while I repartioned the hard drive and loaded XP.I do not have a bootable XP installation CD. I only have the recovery disks that came with the unit.I tried to copy the information using msinfo32, but the system locked up before I could capture it. I am only running the unit for 2 or 3 minutes at a time based on a word of caution I received about avoiding hard shutdowns.I wrote down what I thought was the important items.OS name – MS Windows XP Home EditionVersion – 5..1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600System Model – M2000 (EC214UA#ABA)System Type – X86 based PCProcessor – X86 Family 15 Model 28 Stepping OBIOS Version / Date – HP F27 8/30/2006SMBIOS Version – 2.31Hardware Abstraction Layer – Version "5.1.2600.2180 (XPSP_SP2_rtm. 040803-2158)"Total Physical Memory – 512.00MBAvailable Physical Memory – 207.98MBTotal Virtual Memory – 2.00 GBAvailable Virtual Memory – 1.96 GBPage File Space – 919.77MBPage File – C:\pagefile.sysAny help you can offer will be greatly appreciated.Thank you. Regards,Dennis1 person needs an answerI do too

Its not entirely clear to me whether the recovery disk you used was the one supplied for this PC or another. If the latter, then unless the hardware / model was identical then the wrong drivers may have been installed.Your HD maker will have a free bootable disk checking utility.www.memtest.org have a free bootable memory testing utility

Hi Db4668, Since we are not sure what is causing this issue, I would suggest you toaccess Event viewer on your computer and check in the windows logs for significant error messages/codes related to the issue, during the time when this issue occurs (When the computer locks) and post back the details. Event logs can help you identify and diagnose the source of current system problems, or help you predict potential system problems. Access the link below to know how to view and manage event logs in Event Viewer in Windows XPhttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/event_overview_01.mspx?mfr=true I would also suggest you to check if the issue persists in safe mode and postback the result.To boot to the desktop in safe mode keep tapping F8 key during restart. Once you see the option to boot in safe mode select it and press enter. If it works fine in Safe mode, you may put the computer in a clean boot state and check if any third party applications or startup items are causing this issue.Access the link below and follow the steps to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows XP.http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353 Hope this helps. Let us know the results. Thanks and Regards, Srinivas RMicrosoft Support.Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Hi Palcouk,Thanks for responding. Yes, the recoverydisk I used was the one supplied by the manufacturer for this PC. I will go the memtest site you mentioned for a memory testing utility. I will also check with Compaq about getting a bootable checking utility.Dennis

Hello Srinivas,Thanks for your relpy. It will take me a day or two to perform the steps you offered. I'll get back to you.dennis

If no response from compaq then SeaTools from Seagate often works

Hello Srinivas,I some information for you. The LT would not boot in safe mode. I tapped F8 (Fn +8) starting immediately after pressing the power button. Kept taping for several minutes. Tried several times. Not successful. Went to black screen for several minutes and then to Windows.I was able to get into Event Manager long enough to read the logs. Some of these events were listed multiple times. They all occurred during the same few minutes that I had the LT running the last 1 or 2 times before it locked up.SYSTEM folder:source - service control manager. Event: 7036 - user N/A. Event: 7035 - user Systemsource - EventLog: Events: 6005, 6006, 6009 - user N/Asource - Tcpip: Events: 4201l user N/AAPPLICATION folder:source - NPF Mntor: event: 1, 26 - user systemsource - ccEvtMgr: events: 1, 26 - user systemsource - SND Srvc: events: 1, 26 - user systemsource - cc setmgr: events: 1, 26 - user systemSECURITY folder:source - security: catagory: privilege - events: 576 - user - networksource - security: catagory: privilege - event: 576 - user - local servicesource - security: catagory: logon/LO - event: 528 - user - networksource - security: catagory: logon - event: 540 - user - anomymoussource - security: catagory: policy ch - event: 848, 849, 858 - user systemsource - security: catagory: policy ch - event: 806 - user local servicesource - security: catagory: policy ch - event: 615 - user - network sersource - security: catagory: system E - event: 515 - user - systemIs this the information you were looking for?Thanks again for your help.Dennis

Thanks Palcouk. I have not contacted Compaq yet. I will Friday or SaturdayDennis

Hi Db4668, Is the computer connected to a domain network? However, I would suggest you to unplug all the external USB devices except for Mouse and keyboard and check if it works normally. You may also put the computer in a clean boot state and check if any third party applications or startup items are causing this issue. Access the link below and follow the steps to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows XP.http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353Hope this helps and let us know the result. Thanks and Regards, Srinivas RMicrosoft Support.Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Hello again Srinivas,Thank you again for your response. To answer your questions; no the computer is not connected to a domain network. It is in a private home and is connected to a standalone wireless router. I have unplugged all external devices. I did perform a clean boot according the manual procedure described in the link you provided. There was no improvement. The system still locked up within a couple of minutes. I also performed a "scf scannow" procedure. No improvement, still locked up.Here is a recap. The laptop is a Presario M2000 with an AMD chip (system details are listed above). It has XP Home OS. There are no external devices connected to it. It is not connected to a domain network. It worked fine for several years. Then suddenly began randomly locking up, cap lock key froze, ctrl-alt-delete did nothing. I have to do a hard shutdown. Reformatted the HD and reinstalled XP using recovery disks that came with the laptop. I do not have a bootable XP installation CD. Installed a new cooling fan. Installed new HD. Installed different RAM chips. Ran DR. Watson diagnostic tool - didn't show any application errors. Ran Event Manager - the log results are listed above. Put into Clean Boot Mode using the manual procedure. Still locked up. Could not get into Safe Mode by tapping F8 (used FN key and F8 key). Ran a "scf scannow" procedure- no improvement.So far nothing I have done has made any improvement. Hopefully you will have some additional things to try.Dennis

Hello Srinivas,I have tried several more possible remedies. They didn't help. I have come to the conclusion that this laptop is toast due to over heating. I am going to scrap this thing and take advantage of the holiday sales to find a replacement. Thank you for your efforts to help.best regards, Dennis

HiDb4668, You may try to update and install the BIOS from HP website on your laptop and check if it helps. You may contact HP support for further assistance to update the BIOS and check if it helps you solve the issue with overheating. Link to contact HP support:http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/contacthp?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us NOTE: Modifying BIOS/ complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) settings incorrectly can cause serious problems that may prevent your computer from booting properly. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the configuring of BIOS/CMOS settings can resolved. Modifications of the settings are at your own risk Hope this helps. Let us know the result. Thanks and Regards, Srinivas RMicrosoft Support.Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.