PC freezes

[membrane]

Well not freeze exactly. It's a HP DC 5000, desktop. 2.8 Intel processor. XP Pro SP2.
The problem is when it's running the cpu usage is quite high ( 15% - 35% ) average. but it seems to get stuck. The same time after time, the same sound from the HD each time. Accessing Task Manager brings it out of it for a little while, but it sticks again. Could this be because there are bad sectors on the HD.

any help most appreciated.

 

[Tmagic650]

Yes this could be caused by bad hard drive sectors. Have you tried running a disk check under drive properties

 

[raybay]

Could your more fully describe what you mean by "...it sticks again..." and "... seems to get stuck..."

 

[membrane]

If i try running an app the computer just hangs. won't start the app unless i start up taskmanager which seems to bring it around till the app starts. then it just hangs again until i do the same thing again with TM.