Windows XP PC Hanging

My Win XP system is hanging after the same amount of time after booting. It does come up and I get to the main screen. I can try to select different programs and it starts to execute but then freezes/hangs. If I select no program it still hangs after the same amount of time. Every time I reboot or reset its the same. I replaced my hard drive cable and get the same result. What other things should I check in an effort to resolve this problem?

when you say the "main screen" do you mean your desktop?

if so, scan for spyware using somwthing like Ad-arware (download from my signature if you havnt already got it)
Then follow these instructions and post a hijack this log here

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you say it hangs after the same amount of time, this sounds strange? have you scanned for viruses?

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Is this a new problem? Were things working OK before?
Could be heat. Could be bad PSU or wiring itself.
Is the computer clean? Are the fans working?

Also: look in your Event viewer: rt. click My Computer then click Manage then Event Viewer.
Or: Administrative Tools/Event Viewer or Start/Run/ eventvwr
Open the system as well as the application tabs & look for X errors. Click error line for details.
Post back the source & event id especially of errors that seem to coincide with a crash.

Possible cause could be execution of a malicious file or programme on startup.
i Suggest you refer to vendor if else fails