Sometimes my pc hang and failed to re-boot.

I was confused then... there are times that when I am playing heavy graphics games in my pc for several hours it suddenly hangs up or freeze and no matter what I do I couldn't move anything even could not move the mouse pointer. Then I have no choice but to press the re-set button... but the problem is... it didn't start up or re-boot like before..and nothing happens in the monitor everything is black.. but still the lights on my pc tower casing was still flashing. Then I just turn off the UPS and unplug the power source, and after several hours of "rest" I try starting it and it starts.

It happens several times already, not only when playing games... but also there at one time I am scanning w MS AntiSpyware.. it also hangs and didn't finish the scanning process.

What's the possible cause of this?

 

Hi,
Overheating perhaps?
Do you overclock?
Mrk

 

CPU Maximum Temperatures
http://www.pantherproducts.co.uk/Articles/CPU/CPU Temperatures.shtml

 

No, I don't use overclocking as it is dangerous and I'm no expert in that.

Overheating also was not possible coz I have a program called CPU eat n Cool (not very sure if this is very effective) in w/c i set the required temperature target to cool down the cpu if it reach the target temperature.

My PC is Pentium 4 2.40Ghz, 533FSB, 256MB RAM, and 40gig HD.

After that incedents, I am now trying out the RAM Idle software to at least manage my ram memory as I can't buy for now an extra ram. But m not sure yet if low memory ram is the real cause.

 

yes, RAM is your problem 256Mb is not enough for XP-SP2. it is just about for SP1. Treat your self with another juicy 512Mb stick and FEEEEEEEEEEEEEL the difference

 

Does your Pentium 4 processor have Hyper-Threading Technology? It improves performance of some applications.