HELP!! Computer freezing + long beep

hey guys
So my computer has been freezing up on me for the past few days and now its freezing in about 30 minutes after each reboot. On all occasions, it would start out with my programs slowing down, and then everything would suddenly freeze. my cursor also continues to move after everything else stops working, but eventually it would freeze too.
Sometimes, after a freeze, my computer emits a long single continuous beep.
I am suspecting it's either my RAM or cpu thats the problem but i'm not sure at this moment.
I cleaned out the dust from my PC and used a program to fix registry problems and ran my virus scan, but they dont seem to fix this problem.

I also ran 3 programs to test for temperature and here's what i get :

SpeedFan:
Temp1: 86 C
Temp2:43 C
Temp3: 43 C
HD0:39 C
HD1:45 C
Temp1: 40C
Core 0 : 42C
Core 1: 42C
Core 2: 41C

HWMonitor:
TMPIN0: 86 C
TMPIN1: 43 C
TMPIN2: -41C


Everest:
Motherboard : 43C
Aux: 86 C


In all three cases, I'm trying to figure out what part these programs are measuring thats reading the 86 C.

Here's my computer specs:

Dell
Inspiron 530
Microsoft Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600)
Phoenix-AwardBIOS v.6.00PG
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q660 @ 2.40GHz (4 CPUs)
3326MB RAM


Anyone have any thoughts or advice on this situation?
Any help is much appreciated!!

I'm guessing you've got the 8500GT GPU in there. Either rate, whatever those programs are picking up at 86Ā°C is either a glitch or something about to fry.

I'm leaning more towards the RAM though. Easy way to test that assuming you have a thumb drive laying around. If not, bum one off a friend or go pick yourself up one from Wal-Mart for less than $20. Plug it in, download this: http://www.memtest.org/download/4.10/memtest86+-4.10.usb.installer.zip, unzip and install (you just have to click "Agree" then select the drive letter for your memory stick). Reboot and boot from your thumb drive (should see a way to select Boot Options during startup, typically F8, F10, or F12) and let the test run. Then post the results here.

Huh so it turns out, the problem might be with Firefox.
I'm using Internet Explorer to see if it's any different and so far no freezing.
But I am still concerned with what I found from the temperature reading and will do a check up on the RAM.

Thanks a bunch Don Juan!!

Hmm, do you use the geforce 8500?, cuz I do and my temp is almost 96 C when I play graphic intense games, its about 85C when I play HL2DM and 65 C on IDLE

What hard drive do you have?
I had issues with my Seagate 1.5Tb harddrive. It would hang my computer but still play any music or allow me to move my cursor but I could now do anything.

If you have a newer hdd, from the past year, either 500GB , 1TB or 1.5TB i believe their were some issues. A updated firmware fixed my problem.

I'd still run that RAM test. I learned a long time ago that Google is your best friend when it comes to computer issues. If your having a problem, plenty of other people have had the same one. From what I've been reading up on 9/10 people complaining of the same problem either had bad RAM or just needed to clean the contacts. Run that test, if it fails, pull both RAM sticks out and rub the contacts (the flat metals parts that go into the mobo) with an eraser. Then get a clean tooth brush and run it over/in your RAM slots on the mobo.

(I don't know how much you know about computers, hence the break downs.) I highly doubt a problem like that is coming from a single program going weird, but who knows.

Yeah I think you're right. I downloaded and tried using Chrome, imported everything from Firefox, and now that's starting to freeze up my computer completely as well.
I only had problem with Interenet Explorer once (which I hate using), so I have to deal wit this browser for now.

I'm also having trouble booting from USB. I keep getting Boot Error message.
Any other suggestions?

Hmm, do you use the geforce 8500?, cuz I do and my temp is almost 96 C when I play graphic intense games, its about 85C when I play HL2DM and 65 C on IDLE

I'm currently using ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT. it's around 65 C on idle as well.
But yeah i'm not even playing any games, and my comp jst freezes up.

never mind i got memtest to work.
I ran the test through 10 passes and it hasnt found any errors on RAM.
So maybe the problem is with the CPU?

Try running this and see what you get back. This is a CPU stress tester and should tell us if your CPU has become unstable. http://www.ocbase.com/perestroika_en/index.php?Download. I would suggest bringing up your task manager (Ctrl+Alt+Delete), go to the processes tabs, sort by username, and click "End Process" on anything that doesn't have a username of System, Network Service, or Local Service. Do that before running OCCT. We'll continue on after you can run that for 2 hours.

hey so this is the results i get with OCCT. It ran the test for 5 minutes before it stopped and said that my CPU was getting too hot.

before i run the test:


and after i run the test:



I dont know how accurate this is, but if it's true, should i try reapplying thermal paste to see if it fixes it?

Yes, I would try reapplying the thermal paste as well as blowing out any dust inside your case. You can pickup a can of compressed air at just about any store that carries computer supplies for a few bucks. For the most part, hit your components (mobo, HDD, etc.) with short bursts of air, then blow out all your fans. With the fans, you'll want to point the straw (that comes with the can) into the fan so that when you blow, the dust will come out away from the case.

Make sure that you don't put too much or too little paste on the cooler.

[utube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRRWbQUqW1Y&feature=fvst[/utube]

The guy is kind of a tool, but what he puts out is good.

okay so i'm going to go ahead and buy artic silver 5 for thermal paste for my intel quad core Q6600. should that be fine?

okay so i'm going to go ahead and buy artic silver 5 for thermal paste for my intel quad core Q6600. should that be fine?

Get the Artic MX-2 instead. From the reviews, people were getting cooler temps with it compared to Artic Silver 5.

ok i jst ordered the artic mx-2 so it should be coming in the mail soon. i'll keep u updated. thanks a lot for ur help.

i definately hope its nothing wrong with the mobo or even the PSU.