MY PC Keeps Freezing

[Electrocast]

I go on vacation for a week, and after 2 hours or so of the PC running, it freezes for no reason. I'm serious. It doesn't even show any signs of freezing, such as slowdowns. It just freezes completely - cursor, clock, and all.

It's done this 3 times today. 3 times in a single day.

Anyone know what could be wrong?

 

[Talon87]

One thought is a virus occupying system memory, e.g. a virus that spams your system by generating an effect faster than the computer can process it, thus creating a virtual "stack" of processes which the system has to get through, thereby occupying all of the memory. If you have no reason to suspect a virus though, then don't.

Another possibility is that your RAM stick is faulty / damaged / dying. This isn't likely if the PC is 100% fine up until the two hour mark, but if the PC is really struggling all the way up until it dies at the 2 hour mark, then this could be the case.

Can you turn on your machine and take a PrintScreen of your system processes (by looking at the Task Manager in Microsoft Windows or similar features in other operating systems)? Censor out any private or compromising info, but doing this could help people far more skilled than I help you out, especially if it is a virus or a worm that you've been hit with.

In the meantime, you can do your own research by going on Google and trying to find out what each of the system processes you detect is doing on your machine. Not a guarantee, but if you've been hit by a notorious worm or virus, then it could turn something up on tech-help forums.

 

[Lex]

Could be overheating. Might want to open it up and take a can of air to it, and check that your fans are running properly.

 

[Electrocast]

I highly doubt it's a virus, but I will check it out nonetheless.

As for overheating, my PC usually doesn't do this, even if it does overheat. I usually keep it on for about 15 hours before it overheats and shuts itself off. It doesn't freeze, though. But I cleared out the dust around it, to make sure.

It's been on since I posted the topic and hasn't given be problems, fortunately.

 

[Rayne]

How old is your computer by the way?

How much RAM is on your PC currently?

And just for kicks, what operating system are you using?

If it's really old, some hardware may just be about ready to give out.
Computers aren't forever as opposed to what some may think.