Windows Vista Freezes randomly

Ok, I know this is not new but after some time using vista the system
just freezes, no sound, no UI, then all of a sudden it tries to
generate a report with the blue screen of death... fails and then
restarts.
At the moment the machine restarts.
BAM!
The system says there is no hard drive and no booteable devices.
I unplug everything. power off the system and then on again and then
vista loads normally...
WTH!?

This is my rig:
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T9300 @ 2.50GHz
Memory (RAM): 4.00 GB
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT
Gaming graphics: 1791 MB Total available graphics memory
Primary hard disk:40GB Free (70GB Total)

Windows Vista (TM) Home Premium

System
Manufacturer:Dell Inc. ModelXPS M1530
Total amount of system memory:4.00 GB RAM
System type32-bit operating system
Number of processor cores 2
64-bit capable: Yes
Storage
Total size of hard disk(s) 190 GB
Disk partition (C:)40 GB Free (70 GB Total)
Disk partition (D:)30 GB Free (120 GB Total)
Media drive (E:)CD/DVD
Graphics
Display adapter type NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT
Total available graphics memory1791 MB
Dedicated graphics memory256 MB
Dedicated system memory0 MB
Shared system memory1535 MB
Display adapter driver version 7.15.11.5669
Primary monitor resolution 1680x1050
DirectX version DirectX 10
Network
Network Adapter: Intel(R) Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN
Network Adapter: Microsoft Tun Miniport Adapter
Network Adapter: Marvell Yukon 88E8040 PCI-E Fast Ethernet Controller

Can anyone explain or help me please?
The crash happens aproximately after an hour of use.
The system is up to date in drivers (or so says vista) and system
updates. It even has SP1.


--
edzero

Your hard drive may be failing. While you still can, back up or save to
CD/DVD all of your important files. Do this first.

Then go to the hard drive manufacturers web site. Download the HDD test
utility and then follow instructions for running the tests..

The sooner you do this, the better..

Well since i recently installed it I dont have much in the HD. In fact I
contacted dell support and they told me to do a complete test over the
hard drive i did so and the tests finished without errors...
This machine is brand new and already giving problems. I have also
ubuntu installed in the machine, next thing ill do is launch ubuntu and
use it for a while
if i get same errors then theres no doubt the drive is wrong but if not
then maybe vista is being VERY mean with me.


--
edzero

My bet is a bad hard drive. When it stops accepting data your
system freezes until the drivers time out, tries to generate a report
but can't without dsic access then stops. Your drive is dead until
you power cycle.

Another good bet is a bad power supply which will often affect
drives first.

If the machine is brand new, send it back to Dell and demand a machine that
works.

Installing Ubuntu will do you no favors in this instance..

How much RAM?

Got 4gb, vista will onlyy recognize 3.5.
Ive been using ubuntu for more than 6 hours and no crashes, been
accessing files in my ntfs partitions and I did my backup from here...
I think its a drivers issue... still Ill keep using ubuntu in the
meantime.


--
edzero