Bill how do chipset drivers factor into system freezes and restarts? How about memory related errors pertaining a system driver for the hard drives and the windows kernel? This user has OS level problems and manufacturer driver issues. Please explain.

Hi,

System freezes are common if hardware devices such as keyboard and mouse are not supported by the operating system. Somehow, if you intend to run heavier applications that take up a lot of memory space, the chances of conflicts between the operating system and such applications increases. Such conflicts eventually slow down the system and cause frequent system freeze. Well, to fix this issue you need to check out the compatible version of the application and then install it on your system.

~Update~

I've posted at the spyware section, and it seems I unknowingly had a rootkit installed - all clean now.

During the process of cleaning , I dropped my external drive and it broke. SO now I have a new external drive, and a virus free computer. Backup now works. Still getting freezes though. One of the last message on event viewer is -

An error was detected on device \Device\Harddisk2\D during a paging operation.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at Events and Errors Message Center: Basic Search.

Does this have anything to do with the freezes? If not I think I will try complete windows reinstall in due course....

Ah ! I just remembered - seagate external drive has a power setting that powers the drive down after 15 mins. Forgot to reset this to "never" on the new drive...Ill try that first....

Its been over a month, but I though that I should update here. I was still getting "a few" freezes. I was installing some "test" ram from a know good system, when I noticed the sockets for the 4 pin power lead to the motherboard was, well loose. The solder joints were broken underneath. I could pull the socket off the board ! So I am guessing this was to root of some of the freezinfg problems. I've soldered the joints, and all seems well :-) Such a simple fix.....

Thanks for the update. That's a new one for me, glad you're all set.