Hard drive dying?

Computer stops running but doesn't turn off. Monitor goes black and
the yellow "access" light on the cpu goes out, but the computer
remains on. I have to turn it off and on again to restart. No error
messages or other symptoms. Seems to be virus and adware-free based
on PC Tools and Ad-Aware scans. Would my guess that the hard drive is
conking out be the best guess?

Thanks...

<postacct@ymail.com> wrote in message
news:74a847a1-b1f6-4141-8b7d-8ddf39d11ecd@w7g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
> Computer stops running but doesn't turn off. Monitor goes black and
> the yellow "access" light on the cpu goes out, but the computer
> remains on. I have to turn it off and on again to restart. No error
> messages or other symptoms. Seems to be virus and adware-free based
> on PC Tools and Ad-Aware scans. Would my guess that the hard drive is
> conking out be the best guess?
>
> Thanks...

Don't guess - download and run the diagnostic program that your
hard disk manufacturer has on his web site.

Make sure SMART is turned on. It tells you on the BIOS screen. If your
computer is dying SMART detects it. If it has bad news it will be in the
system log. If good then there will be no entry.

<postacct@ymail.com> wrote in message
news:74a847a1-b1f6-4141-8b7d-8ddf39d11ecd@w7g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
> Computer stops running but doesn't turn off. Monitor goes black and
> the yellow "access" light on the cpu goes out, but the computer
> remains on. I have to turn it off and on again to restart. No error
> messages or other symptoms. Seems to be virus and adware-free based
> on PC Tools and Ad-Aware scans. Would my guess that the hard drive is
> conking out be the best guess?
>
> Thanks...

postacct@ymail.com wrote:
> Computer stops running but doesn't turn off. Monitor goes black and
> the yellow "access" light on the cpu goes out, but the computer
> remains on. I have to turn it off and on again to restart. No error
> messages or other symptoms. Seems to be virus and adware-free based
> on PC Tools and Ad-Aware scans. Would my guess that the hard drive is
> conking out be the best guess?
>

Overheating will do that. Check for fans and excess fuzz.