# computer help needed **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 24, 2002, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-needed/129406 "2002-09-24T03:42:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JerseyDiamond](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8491ac/32.png) [@JerseyDiamond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerseyDiamond)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-needed/129406/1 "2002-09-24T03:42:00Z")
My computer seems to be freezing up a lot. There are times when I get ready to send a post, my mouse pointer with all of a sudden stop moving and then I have to restart my computer. When I am trying to send a fax, it always freezes. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks, JD ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-needed/129406/2 "2002-09-24T04:02:32Z")
The first thing I think of is either a driver problem or a resource conflict. Locking up can also be caused by overheating, but I don’t think it would happen every time you sent a fax. It would likely be more random if it were a heat problem. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-needed/129406/3 "2002-09-24T16:21:54Z")
Yeah, heat is nbr one for these things. Also sometimes you have to wait to see if it responds. But I don’t know what computer you have & I don’t know what operating system, so you should let us know that. ---
**Author:** ![Toddly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@Toddly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toddly)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-needed/129406/4 "2002-09-24T20:26:18Z")
It could be a number of things but need to know the operating system and make of the machine to give some better advice. Have you installed anything new lately and then this problem arose? ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2002, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-needed/129406/5 "2002-09-24T22:35:02Z")
Dust collecting on the vent holes also needs to be checked. ---
**Author:** ![TBone2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@TBone2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBone2)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2002, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-needed/129406/6 "2002-09-25T01:04:17Z")
You give very little to go on, **JerseyDiamond** , but based on what you say, it strikes me that both of the functions you mention – “posting” (I assume online, _a la_ the SDMB) and faxing – involve your modem. Faulty or improperly installed modems have a nasty way of locking up your whole system. Without further information, I couldn’t offer any other guesses… ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2002, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-needed/129406/7 "2002-09-25T15:44:18Z")
Maybe they can’t get online? It was 106 in LA yesterday, so thats heat for ya. My computer might do that when the room is only 78…