Back in May I had occasion to ask a question the conclusion to which was a virus. It meant that I had to rebuild my computer system after formatting the disks to remove the virus.Since then I have reloaded, from scratch, the XP version of Windows, twice. In addition I have replaced the graphics card in a vain attempt to repair whatever was wrong.I am running Windows XP with Service Pack 3 and antivirus software by Trend Internet Security. In addition Windows Explore 8. Only these items alone are to be found on my hard drive.There are no viruses contaminating the system or any third party software. Also I have disabled the add-ons.Problem: after 5 minutes the screen freezes and I have to reboot. I cannot download from trusted sites because this also stops the system dead. Sometimes the screen just displays the last image. On other occasions the system auto reboots and on others freezes before the welcome screen.The system is upto date with all the new releases from Microsoft and I have no further ideas on how to solve this mess. Can you help please.Edit: quite surprised that the system held up for me to type this message!!!1 person needs an answerI do too

"SidJames" wrote in message news:93bdaf79-3200-4e8f-acda-62facbf7a5c9...Back in May I had occasion to ask a question the conclusion to which was a virus. It meant that I had to rebuild my computer system after formatting the disks to remove the virus.Since then I have reloaded, from scratch, the XP version of Windows, twice. In addition I have replaced the graphics card in a vain attempt to repair whatever was wrong.I am running Windows XP with Service Pack 3 and antivirus software by Trend Internet Security. In addition Windows Explore 8. Only these items alone are to be found on my hard drive.There are no viruses contaminating the system or any third party software. Also I have disabled the add-ons.Problem: after 5 minutes the screen freezes and I have to reboot. I cannot download from trusted sites because this also stops the system dead. Sometimes the screen just displays the last image. On other occasions the system auto reboots and on others freezes before the welcome screen.The system is upto date with all the new releases from Microsoft and I have no further ideas on how to solve this mess. Can you help please.Edit: quite surprised that the system held up for me to type this message!!!Sid ( I went to school with your son - but that was 40 yeas ago! <g>)This sounds very like a failing motherboard.Have a CLOSE look at the capacitors on the board - do any have domed tops? are any leaking fluid? I keep coming across systems with blown or blowing capacitors, and without close inspection it's impossible to diagnose a problem, until it gets so bad that nothing works.... sounds like yours has about reached that stage. -- Noel Paton | Nil Carborundum Illegitemi | CrashFixPC

Thanks Noel I'll check and report back.