Last week I reinstalled windows XP on my laptop (compaq), but the UB software and to a lesser extent also the Stars software don't run well. When I start up, say, UB, then everything works fine for a while (sometimes 15 minutes, sometimes 30, depends) but then the computer slows down exponentially to the point where I lose all control over it (CTRL-ALT-DEL doesn't work anymore) and I can only switch it off manually. It's clear that there is some processor overload happening but I have no idea where it comes from or what to do about it.

Any advice?

ummm ... buy a new computer??

The fact that this problem wasn't there before I reinstalled everything seems to indicated that the problem is in the software, not the computer? Besides, I can't buy a new computer until I earn the money for it, and in order to earn that money I need to play, and in order to play the computer has to work.

What else are you running when this happens?

The only programs that I have on the background are some anti-virus and spyware protection, and ZoneAlarm.

When you next boot up, run Task Manager and keep it running throughout your session, checking the CPU and memory usage frequently. Make a note of what processes are running and their demands on your system when the problems start to occur. That should help identify the cause. What you do after that depends on what you find.

There are 30 processes running. Most of them don't use any CPU power. When I play, typically Pokerstars.exe uses in the range of 0-20%. (20% when dealing cards.) When the computer hangs itself, Pokerstars.exe is using 99% of the CPU power. Anti-virus/spyware software doesn't seem to be running when I play. Zonealarm is working but not using significant resources it seems.

Kenny, what did you do against the overheating?