freezing

[toms61]

I have an old Compaq and running windows xp. When I turn it on, after it has set over night it will run for about
15 min then freez. After that it only runs about 3 min. and freez. I checked the 2 fans and they run. Any one know why it gets hot...
Thanks for any and all help.............

[steveOtoo]

Did you check the CPU heatsink. Even though the fans are running the heatsinks may be dirty,very common in older PC's. You can use compressed air to clean but hold the fan in place while cleaning.

[toms61]

Thank tou very much stevoOtoo. I could not belive how much dust was under that fan. I had to take the fan off to get the dust under it. It run better then it has for a long time, for 5 hrs. then it froze. It may be like me just getting old. I hate to put much money in it as old as it is, but it sure did work good for 5 hrs. lol junk it or fix it ???

[seawulf71]

Not knowing your skill level makes it tough to make suggestions. I would guess that the power supply has dust bunnies in it too and the thermal paste under the cpu heatsink and the northbridge/southbridge heatsink(s) needs replacing. Good luck!

[Nostradamus]

could also be bad ram heating up causing issues as well