PC Lockups

Hi, im having issues with XP just locking up at random times.

It will lock up when i download files using IRC, play certain games, when ever its bored.

Its all running fine, then bam.. stops cant move the mouse, task manager cant get accessed, then 20 second later it will be fine. Then this carrys on, my only option is to reboot by resetting.

PC Specs, amd 2000 xp +, 512 ram im running McAfee Internet Security and the pc is running on a LAN with a linksys router.

I think its an internet issue, as it will always lock up when im using the net, ie online gaming or downloading a file or just chatting in general.

Any help will be apreciated, thanks.

Edit: XP Home edition

 

d you have a nvidia gforce grafics card. my computer used to lock up because xp was clashing with the drivers to me gforce.

 

Yea i do, GeForce 4 MMX 440, what should i do?

 

I'm not convinced it's an Nvidia driver problem, but it wouldn't hurt to install the latest drivers.

http://www.nvidia.com/view.asp?IO=winxp-2k_44.03

Use the system file checker (SFC) to replace any over-written system files. You will need your XP disk and if it doesn't contain SP1 (Assume your are updated to SP1?) then you would be well advised to rerun SP1 after the file check. This file check is a bit annoying as you don't have a choice to let it grab the missing file from the CD automatically, so you have to click yes each time the dialog box comes up. You may be there for half an hour or so!
Start|Run| Type "sfc /scannow" sans quotes and note the space between sfc and /
Interesting with my Gforce 4 card, after using the sfc I have to reinstall the cards drivers, so suggest you wait till after the sfc to load new Nvidia drivers.

 

Thats the exact same card. Well right click on My computer then go to properties. Go to the hardware tab and then click the device manager button. Under Display adaptors it should say NVIDIA GeForce 4 MX 440. The problem i was getting with mine was i had installed the Winfast A170 driver. So if under the display adaptors you have Winfast A170 instead of NVIDIA GeForce 4 MX 440 right click on Winfast A170 and go to properties, Driver tab, Update driver button. *Make sure the cd that came for the grafics card is in the computer* Choose "Install from a specific location (advanced)" and click Next. Choose the "dont search. I will choose from a list" option and click next. The next screen should come up with 2 options to choose from, NVIDIA GeForce 4 MX 440 or Winfast A170. Choose Winfast A170 and then click next and go through the process of installing it. after you restart you should be fine.

This is the process that my computer gave me, if u run into troubles I'll see if i can help but i cant promise anything.