I have been having an extremely stubborn problem with my computer freezing. Every time, I have to give it a hard reset, and when I turn it back on, it freezes even sooner. This last time, it froze on the windows startup screen. I'm afraid to start it again.
Here's some info to start out with:
My computer is a Dell Dimension 2400. It was working fine two days ago... but then started acting up after I bought a new wireless mouse for it. I don't see how that would be connected to the freezing, but since it was the most recent change, I'll include it just in case. I have recently made several other hardware changes in an attempt to upgrade my computer to be able to run Sims 3. I finally got it to work three days ago. To do this, I upgraded the memory from a 256MB (DDR) card to a 1GB (DDR) card. No problems after that. Then I upgraded my video card from a 64MB built-in Intel Graphics Controller card to a 128MB ATI Radeon 9250. When I realized that card didn't work for the game because it didn't support the right version of pixel shader, I upgraded it again to a 512MB Nvidia GeForce 8400. There were no problems and it ran the game perfectly after these two upgrades. I also switched out my keyboard for a different one that had volume controls built into it. I only got to play the game for a day before my computer started freezing up randomly. Each time I turned the computer back on, it takes less time to freeze.
To try to solve the problem myself, I have done the following things:
Used a different mouse. Removed the new video card and switched it back to using the built-in Intel one. Added more memory (by putting the 256MB card in at the same time as the 1GB, in the other slot I have). Gave the computer plenty more air circulation in case it was overheating. Started up the computer in safe mode with and without networking, but never got past the login screen.
I don't know what else to do... it's hard to work with when I can't even get into windows anymore... and I'm still clueless as to the root of the problem.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!