computer troubles

Ok my computer is offically annoying me. It is constantly locking up at completely random times and I am unable to find out why. I am sure it is not OS based as I have installed a second copy OS and tried it with that and caused same problems. The thing I find strange though is it doesnt seem like it is an overheating problem either. Sometimes it freezes within 5sec of turning on the computer other times it freezes after 2 days. I have been unable to get the motherboard monitor to work and with the increased freezing it is random chance till I get long enough to install. I am running XP pro w/ a 2.4 celron on a ECS L4VIA2 motherboard. I also have connected a 5200 ultra and a catilina 7.1 sound card. I am thinking of ordering a 3rd fan in case it is in fact a heating problem but because of the strangeness in freezing I have been hesitant about it. Any suggestions on how I can test for problems or what I should do?

Thanks,
Michael

Try swapping out the ram with know good ram. Often bad memory will exhibit these type of systems.

I have been unable to find some for sure working memory as I am now far from any true comp shop, and everyone at my school has a freakin laptop. I have tried switching out all 3 of my mem sticks in different slots and orders and still freezes. I cant believe all 3 would just die would they? any other way can suggest for testing?

thanks

Try this to test your memory out Windows Memory Diagnostic & I'd suggest you test each stick seperately ;)

Which windows is this ? If its xp or w2k there may be stuff in a thing called 'event viewer' which might give us technical folks some clues .. Using event viewer (xp version) (by way of example for the unitiated, w2k instructions are practically the same) - we want to know about any errors or warnings there (we might also want some of the information entries, but unlikely ;))..

The standard method of troubleshooting this kind of situation, is to strip out all 'not required' stuff you can (just mem, video card & disk connected is generally enough) to test with (if you had duplicate stuff like a techie would, you'd swap out 'maybe bits' for known working good, to elimate combinations that can't readily be tested any other way - e.g. a cpu & motherboard) & then add back each extra peripheral until you can find what makes it happen ..

If you want an idea of how hot your machine is getting try opening bios, there's generally temperature readings there you can access. This won't give you the temperatures under load (when its doing lots of processing) but it will give you an idea of 'idle temperature' which is generally an indicator of how hot it'll get later a celeron ought to be less than middle 30's centrigrade, & not hotter than 40 anyway ;)