I'm fixin' to throw this thing out the window.

Older Dell dimension computer. 2.53ghz P4 processor, 300gig HD, 786mb ram, 32bit Windows 7, bla bla

Problem started off as a random reboot in the middle of the night, resulting in the system clock reading the wrong time and day. I replaced the little battery on the motherboard and diddnt have any problems for a while.

Now, the random reboots are much more frequent, and sometimes the computer will only last 10 minutes before it freezes, and then a few minutes later gets a short blue screen of death and reboots. Sometimes it will last a few hours. Problem is, it doesnt recognize the HD after the reboot. Says primary drive not found. I have to power on and off a time or 2 until it recognizes the hard drive, and the cycle starts again. System time never changes like it did in the beginning.

When it was less frequent, I tried upgrading from XP to 7, but nothing changed.

I updated my bios (last update available was from 2003) but it was no help.


You think its my motherboard? Or the hard drive?

I guess I could try a new HD? Or do you think its the motherboard? I'd LOVE to have a new or even used computer, but the funds just arent available anytime soon.