Frozen Beeps!

[sajack]

I have a Dell laptop that is running xp.  If I turn it on and leave it, it is fine.  If I try to run a program of any kind (scan, game, typing, browser), after about 5 minutes it locks up and gives off a constant beep - this beep is a repetitive short beep of the last sound before it locked up - so the tone/sound of the beep changes.  I have to power off to get it going again.  The computer is virus and malware clean.  I've checked the memory.  Any suggestions?  Thanks.

[patio]

From Our Archives...

This may give a clue to what the issue is...
Post back if you need more info...

[sajack]

Thanks for the reply.  No, it's not beep codes.  It's like the computer snatches the last sound before freezing and just repeats that sound.  I've been reading a bit about video cards possibly causing this problem but have not reached a conclusion yet....

[patio]

Well you mentioned beeps...which normally means sounds from the motherboard...now you are saying these are Windows sounds? ? ?

Just trying to clarify as they are 2 different things...

[sajack]

I don't believe it is motherboard beeps.  I believe it is the repetition of the last sound before it locks up.  Therefore, if it locks up when I click then I get the repetition of the sound of a click.  Thanks for any help!