PC Freezes with Looping Sound

A ten year old Surge Protector could easily have a million age-related issues that would cause problems. ... It never hurts to update drivers, it never hurts to check your RAM and what not, that stuff doesn't hurt.

Yeah, a BIOS update has the POTENTIAL to screw up your system, but I've never seen or heard of a BIOS update actually breaking a computer in my life.

I have seen motherboards destroyed because a BIOS installation failed. Some have backdoors to fix the damage. Others do not. But nothing in a BIOS is relevant once the machine boots. The OS often replaces BIOS code with its own. Just another reason why BIOS is irrelevant once a system boots. Did the BIOS that was working fine so long ago suddenly change? Of course not.

There are no age relevant issues with surge protectors. Surges occur maybe once every seven years. A failed protector does nothing even on 400+ volt transients. Or the protector continues to perform like it always did - just like a power strip that is not a protector. It has zero relationship to do with your symptoms. Later, if curious why, we can go into hard technical details. But today, that is not relevant.

Either semiconductors work just as good as they did when they were new. Or they are failing. But making changes adds new sources of failure. A long list that even includes static electricity. Many semiconductors are so robust at to withstand 2000 and 15,000 volt without damage. But once removed, even 50 volts can do damage. Just another example of why changing things can only complicate a problem by adding variation and change.

An overwhelming majority do not know how electricity works. Just like an overwhelming majority knew Saddam had WMDs. Only person who is relevant in you inquiry is the one who also says why and says so with numbers.

Most of your tests (from what I read) told you almost nothing about the quality of each part. And you are worrying about a power supply when you should be concerned with the entire power *system*. For example, did you know of a power controller decides when the CPU can execute? When the system powers on and powers off? Power system is much more than just a supply. How many also knew that?

Your surge protector, if failed, has converted itself to nothing more than a power strip. And it does absolutely nothing when 120 v power is less than 330 volts. You surge protector is completely irrelevant. A guy who designed surge protection systems also warns you - that power strip protector can sometimes make computer damage easier. And again, that is also not relevant to your symptoms.

If you think the surge protector is causing problems, then plug an incandescent lamp into that power strip. Does the light bulb change intensity when computer is on or off? If yes, then power strip (or household wiring) has a defect. If not, then incoming power is ideal - is not suspect.

Provided was a short suspect list. Everything that can cause your symptoms. Furthermore, memory test is not performed properly if hunting for an intermittent memory problem. We can discuss that later when it comes time to review that other suspect. Until the power system is defined by numbers as "without any doubt good" or "without any doubt bad", then other tests can only provide vague or misleading results.

Again, I am only telling you why you have been so confused. And why 40 people provided insufficient assistance. The concept is called 'follow the evidence'.

In so many posts, I did not see anything from the system (event) logs. Were they reviewed and posted? That is a very first fact collected when suffering intermittent computer problems.

Appreciate what a major consumer magazine discovered. They created minor computer problems. Most repair shops never fixed the problem. A most common solution instead replaced the power supply - that was perfectly fine. To pass the A+ Certified Computer Tech exams, one need not have any electrical knowledge. Well, my computer hardware design experience is numerous decades. I am pointing you in a complete different direction because I have done this stuff even generations ago on hardware that must never fail.

Numbers from the meter (only when the system is fully loaded - multitasking to every drive and port) will result in an answer that says "without doubt". Accomplishment will be measured by the number of items on that list that are "without doubt" good or bad. Currently your list is empty. Even memory is not yet on that list.