This is related to my other thread:
http://www.daniweb.com/forums/thread102206.html
(note, there is a second page as well)
This is the new, more clear, info that I have on the possible cause.
The symptoms are that my sound starts cracking slightly and that my screen flashes black for a second then comes back. This is repeated the whole time. I immediately run a CHKDSK C: /f and then I restart. The results show that loads of sectors on my HDD are damaged and will have to be repaired.
Once repaired (if I'm lucky that Windows didn't crash altogether [if it does, i get a split-second BSOD and then PC restarts]) I check my Event Viewer and it shows an ERROR that happened at the same time as the 'crash'. It's the DCOM Error No.10016 - Cause: xpsp2res.dll
As I've read on microsoft's website, that error has something to do with 3rd party apps needing a lot of memory (note, my PC is newly formatted [for the 6th time today] with almost nothing on it). They provided me with a HOTFIX, and I have installed that now. I'm still waiting on the crack sounds and black screen. Will have to wait and see.
It has been said that it could be my POWER, HDD Overheating, or permanent HDD Damage. It is NOT overheating and it is NOT permanent HDD damage (have tested on 2 other HDDs).
It COULD be power, but I'm not sure - because what does my power have to do with DCOM errors and memory stuff? Plus, It doesn't happen on Vista...AT ALL. So it has to be something to do with XP. I've used this PC for almost 3 years now and only about 1 year ago this problem started. At first it was once every 2 weeks, now it's about 5 - 7 times a day. AT first I thought it was a hacker screwing with my files, but it happens even when I'm completely disconnected from the net.
Please help. I am desperate and tired. I have been trying to seriously and deeply solve this issue for the past 2 months and haven't had a moment of entertainment. Can't watch my DVDs, can't play games, because the moment I try to relax, the PC crashes.
PLEASE! it will be greatly appreciated.