[MaxCast]

Is there a web site that one can go to to find out what I have and how to get rid of it?

My computer locks up when I do a scan    5 minuets into a Norton scan, computer goes dead.  5 minuets into a spybot scan, same.  I click to open adaware, boom, dead.
The screen goes black, the green light blinks, power button inoperable, reset button inoperable.  I have to power down the UPS then the power button on the computer will restart it.

HeeeeellllllP

[bpape]

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html

http://usa.kaspersky.com/products_services/free-virus-scanner.php?aw=feeds-clp-Free-Virus-Scan&CMP=KNL-YPIF07&HBX_PK=feeds+clp+Free+Virus+Scan&HBX_OU=51

Try those first and see if they will at least identify it. 

Bryan

[Philistine]

Have you tried running the two virus programs in Windows Safe mode?  This sometimes helps clear your PC before the infection has chance to load.

[WGH]

Hope the virus scans work, but if the computer locks up after 5 minutes my first thought was overheating. When was the last time you opened it up and blew out all the dust? Make sure to clean all the fuzzies from between the heat sink fins too.

[MaxCast]

Thanks much for the help so far 

Started housecall and it started the 20 min. scan.  I came back to find the computer locked up 

I'll try do the safe mode recommendation after I remember how to do that.

WGH, I don't think it is overheating.  I can use the computer for an hour.  It locks up when I am doing a scan, unless the scan gives the computer a good work out.  I will pop the hood and take a looksee.  In fact as soon as I clicked to start adaware she locked up instantly.

[bpape]

Doing a scan does hit the hard disk pretty hard. 

Have you looked at the event log to see if it's writing anything there?  When you bring it back up, do you get the black screen saying it didn't terminate normally and does it give you anything else?

While it's working, I'd recommend getting all your important files backed up to CD just in case you have to wipe the machine.

Bryan

[WGH]

Usually a computer just loafs along but virus scanning, gaming, video encoding will give it a good workout.

There are quite a few different load/stress tests available.
Sisoft Sandra burn in test http://www.sisoftware.net/index.html?dir=&location=downandbuy&langx=en&a=
CPU Burnin http://users.bigpond.net.au/cpuburn/
CPU Burn http://pages.sbcglobal.net/redelm/
Video Card/CPU test/ benchmark http://www.futuremark.com/download/?hash=675231

[Mike B.]

I agree with trying to scan in safe mode. If the computer runs Windows, restart your computer and start hitting F8. This should give you a menu and you want to choose safe mode. Once it is loaded, open your virus scan and see if it will do a full scan.

[MaxCast]

Tried Norton, sbybot, adaware in safe mode.  5, 2, 5 minuets respectively in she locked down.

Next I will check under the hood and continue with WGH's links.  I am noticing a very slight werrrr from the puter that I did not notice before.

Bryan, I don't know what it displays at boot up I will watch next time.  However, firefox asks to restore last session which means to be the puter did not shut down correctly.

[MaxCast]

Bryan and WHG win the bOObie prize !!  One for each of yous 

When I opened my computer the fan on the cpu was tilting back.  A little plastic piece that the bracket grabs had broke.    don't know how that happened the computer never moves.  So, I am thinking it was over heating and shutting down...at least I hope.  I'm off to do some scans...  I took it to my computer shop and he fixed me right up.

Thanks for all the suggestions.  You guy are the best.  I'll be sure to send one of those nice looking waitress' over with your beer. 

EchiDna, you may want to grab some of these links and make a sticky.  They could be very helpful.

                                           

[WGH]

Glad it was an easy fix.
Thanks for the beer, I'll tip the waitress, they work hard for their money.

[bpape]

Absolutely - those are the best kind. 

On some of the cooling fans, they're tensioned with plastic pins with a spring over them.  If the pin breaks, it can come loose like that.

Bryan