computer crashes (locks up) help please?

[RedsFanGeoff]

I have a 60gb WD windows drive, ASUS k8v deluxe mobo, athlon 64 3200, NEC DVDRW drive, 1gb memory, and AIW ATI 800XT.

My problem is, when i reinstalled windows after having previous problems with an old raphics card I put my gf2 ti 200 in it just so i run the computer. I figured it was the reason for my computer locking up. My comp takes waaaaaay to long to start-up, ive done msconfig and only stopped a few, but before my reformat it never took nearly as long with even more stuff to load. i figured when i put my new card in, things would change due to bneter performance. well, i was wrong and now it seems my comp locks up and freezes all the time. it could range from crashing 2 min after loading windows, or 5-6 hours. sometimes it locks when i load firefox. i thought it now could be either FIREFOX or my HARD DRIVE. anyone else have this issue or could help me out? and why is taking so long to load? even an old celeron wouldnt take this long to load norton (which is the only thing that loads at boot-up)

thx
reformat? reins

 

[daveybrat]

what kind of power supply do you have for your rig?

 

[wpshooter]

Have you ran Western Digital hard drive diagnostic ?

 

[RedsFanGeoff]

I have not run WD diagnostics, how do u do that? i dont have any WD cd's or floppys anymore. you think that diag tool is on there website?
i have an antec 550w ps
also, sometimes ill have my comp on on then when i come back the monitor is black, and i cant see anything unless i restart comp using power key.

 

[RedsFanGeoff]

i ran diagnostics and nothing

 

[RedsFanGeoff]

please help? i dont understand it, i have all new drivers, comp is not running to hot, sometimes it crashes w/i in 1 min and sometimes it crashes w/i 4 hrs

 

[wpshooter]

You say when you come back your monitor is black.

Is it in power saving mode or is there just now video - is the machine locked up ?

Do you hit a key "space bar" when it is black to see if it is in power saving mode ?

 

[RedsFanGeoff]

no it is not in power saving mode. if the monitor is still on the computer is locked up when i come back to it. its totally random, im just trying to see if its something i could fix, cuz i dont want to have to reformat.
thanks