hardware problem

[Tim Wilson <wilson@chemsun.chem.umn.edu>]

Hi everyone,

I've got a student here at Sibley who is having a hardware problem with
his Linux system. It's a Packard Bell (*groan*, he knows better now) with
a P120 and 48MB RAM.

His system will freeze up without warning. Apparently, the CPU usage goes
to 100% and the whole system drags down. When he runs top, it turns out
that X is using 90-something% CPU. The same thing happens in Windows
although, of course, he has no way to know which process is hogging the
CPU. He's reinstalled the system with no effect.

Any ideas?

-Tim

--
Timothy D. Wilson			"A little song, a little dance,
University of MN, chem. dept.		a little seltzer down your 
wilson@chem.umn.edu			pants."   -Chuckles the Clown
Phone: (612) 625-9828                       as eulogized by Ted Baxter