Both options you provided can be signs of a potential malware infection, but they represent different issues:
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Your computer restarts on its own and then runs properly: This could indicate a variety of issues, including hardware problems, software conflicts, or indeed an infection. However, unexpected restarts can sometimes be related to system updates or hardware malfunctions rather than malware specifically.
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Your computer locks up and stops responding: This is a more common sign of a malware infection. Malicious code can cause performance issues, including freezing or unresponsiveness as it consumes system resources or interferes with normal operations.
In conclusion, while both symptoms could signal a problem, the scenario where your computer locks up and stops responding is more explicitly indicative of malicious code activity.