System works fine for about 30 minutes. Then hard drive clicks, light goes red, and screen goes blank. If i unplug the power supply and plug back, it will go back on, but the smae thing will happen again. I have checked the temperatures and none are above 40 degrees C. The hard drive is around 30. I tried a new power supply, different IDE cables, and checked all connections. Any ideas what it can be? Hard drive works perfect while on. Marc G.

What are your settings for Power Saving? Maybe there is a problem with the software causing the system to lock up. Ensure that system standby, system hibernate, and turn off hard drive options in the power settings are turned off and see if that helps. You said that if you unplug the PSU and plug it back in, it will come back on but the same thing will happen again. Do you mean it stays on for another 30 minutes and the locks up again? If so, it definitely sounds like a software issue to me. If it were heat related you would have intermittent problems depending on the temperature in the room and it would happen more frequently after unplugging and powering back up if you didn't give the system time to cool. Also, 30 degrees Celcius doesn't seem like anything to worry about. That's just barely above room temperature. I would definitely investigate into a software problem. Also, would it be possible for you to try another HDD in the system?

Well, it varies how long it takes to seize up. Last time it occured during boot, so it definitely seems like it is a hardware issue to me, most likely hard drive or motherboard i guess. I will try it with another hard drive and see if that is it. I ran the maxtor diagnostics though and it passed all those tests. Marc G.

Tried with different hard drive, and with different memory...same result. That means it isn't hd, memory, power supply, or software. I am experiencing the same behavior even if i am not in windows. I was running some diagnostics which caused same result. I guess it is either the motherboard or CPU, but it definitely does not seem to be overheating. I do not have a separate video card. Any other ideas, or should I start the RMA? Marc G.

hmm try a differnet wall outlet socket (on a differnet ring in the house if you can) and also try a new power cable if you change the psu HDD and ram then the problem may be the motherbord to check unplug all drives form the MOB and all cards just keep in RAM CPU (and cooler ofc)and the power to the motherbord and see if you have the same problem if all is ok connect all your devices back to the computer 1 by one (start with the hard drive0 and let it run for several hours running a program that will strain it such as 3D mark form madonion.com (with and onbord GPU you will want 2000SE )or any other graphical program you could also test the ram with memtest86 i know you did try different sticks but it may all be bad ya never know after you have done that then post back and i will see if ther is anything else i can thing of you testing and finaly make sure the power connector in fully in the motherbord and that the power switch is not faulty in any way "Kernrel Panic"

I tried all of the ideas, but am quite sure it isn't the power supply, as i have tried it in multiple houses, with multiple power supplies. I also have realized that it will run forever if I leave it in the bios. I tried running memtest, but it always crashes before it is complete. I don't think it is the memory though, since i have tried other sticks, that i know are stable and working fine. Obviously it is not a software/windows thing. I did just try and reseat the cpu and heatsink, since i did read about people having similar problems and this being the issue. I will see if that fixes it and post back, but it seemed like it was secure before. Thanks for all the ideas. This is definitely some odd behavior. Marc G.

@sparkattack - If I understand you correctly - you have not tried this hard drive connected to another motherboard?? Sounds like the issue has been narrowed down to the motherboard or CPU with all your swapping of hardware. That's the next step if you can - swap the CPU chip. Search Engines Are Your Friends Morpheus: There is a difference between knowing the path and walking the path. "The Matrix"