PC freezes at random times.. hardware problem..

[311Homebrew]

ok so iv got this problem with this pc i built.. im runnin a soyo dragon pro v1.0, w/ a Athlon 2600 xp cpu... the other day it started freezin.. so i backed up and reformatted and reinstalled os.. during format hard drive freezes... started over.. same thing.. so im like that sucks i gotta get a new hd.. buy another.. reinstall windows and same freezing problem occurs... thought it might be the video card.. cause it was kinda old.. one of them oldschool ati all-in-wonders i bought off this cat.. anyway i switched to another card and im gettin the same problem...

does anyone know whether this could be a hardware problem.. it seems like it works better when i open up the case... like it's a cooling problem...
prolly not a very good powersupply.. crappy powmax case combo...

any suggestions?

 

[waynejkruse10]

get into the bios and check temps and voltages for you psu, get a friends old computer and test your hdd and stuff on that.

wayne

 

[Apokalipse]

does the BIOS give any beep codes on boot?
and does it get past the POST at all?

 

[Cappy]

has the computer worked before or has this problem just stareted after an upgrade ?

 

[311Homebrew]

yeah it has worked before.... i didn't really upgrade... just built it and put xp on it.... the computer has worked fine for about a month and a half w/ no problems... then this just randomly started happening

 

[vance43211]

1.rearrange your cd dvd drive and your pci hardward so you motherboard can get optimum airflow

2.upgrade your power supply

3.nstall another fan

I had that problem on one of my computers and doing no 1 fix the problem

 

[311Homebrew]

so does the power supply really have a lot to do with it... i figured it might be a cooling problem.. i just ordered another case.. it's a chieftec dragon.. i can get 5 fans up in it.. hopefully it will fix the problem.. the thing that i don't understand is that it will sometimes happen like right after i turn it on which makes me think it is not a cooling problem.. what do you think? suggestions on powersupply's

 

[vance43211]

do no.1 first. it free

then worry about power supply if that don't solve it

if no.1 solves the problem, buy you another fan

 

[Cappy]

without a quality power source your computer is rendered useless
how much more important does it need to be