New
#1
spontaneous crashes
my computer -- a Windows XP SP2 32 bit system -- is crashing repeatedly, and often. I have no idea why, and the problem has been getting progressively worse over the last 4 months. At this point my computer is almost unsuable aside from when I am in safe mode (which is where I am now).
In short, at seemingly random points my computer will emit a brief crunching sound from teh speakers, and then it will lock up hard. There's no disc access, no mouse movement, no nothing. Sometimes the fan will kick in and ramp up to approach the sound of a jet taking off. The only way I can recover is to pull the plug. Occasionally I would get BSODs, usually based in win32k.sys but I have not gotten one in 2-3 weeks now.
This problem has been quite intractable. I cannot seem to solve it to save my life. I have gotten help from a few sources, but they have not yet solved the issue. The main sources have been this thread and this more recent thread on a different forum.
I have been through virus scans, malware scans, memory tests, uninstalls, driver updates, reinstalls, thing after thing after thing. The problem remains: crunching sound, hard crash, even on the Windows logon screen. I'm okay in safe mode.
If anyone were willing to give some suggestions, review the thread above, or offer any help whatsoever, I would be exceedingly grateful. Thank you so much.