Computer Freezing :(

[R A]

My win2000pro computer often freezes during an internet
session but can also freeze when I'm not on the internet.
Just before it freezes the CPU seem to be run high (as
noted by sound, and Taskmanager) and seems to continue to
run high during the freeze. What I know is that there was
a Windows update concerning a security issue that
(paraphrasing) allows an attacker to run my computer for
whatever purposes. Would this freeze up my computer? It
probably is not the problem since I have that update
installed. I have used Norton Firewall, Norton Antivirus,
Spyware, and Ad-aware and they don't show anything
unusual. This problem was occuring after about 2 months
from a new win2000pro installed. Anyone know what might be
the problem? My belief in win2000pro as a robust system is
quickly falling. A program crashing is tolerable...but a
whole system that freezes is not...this system is supposed
to be Windows "NT".

dsl
256mb ram
selected service packs installed

 

[Alias]

What was the last thing you installed?

Alias

"R A" wrote

 

[RA]

I have installed a some small programs but I don't think
they are causing the freezes. For one thing the freezes
seem to occur randomly and I use the programs in no
particular pattern. The freezes could occur within minutes
of rebooting or between days. One time my computer blanked
out, a couple times my computer had bad graphics, but most
of the time the screen remained normal during the freezes.

The one constant is that the CPU seems to run high during
the freezes. I've read the windows update about the
attacker issues so I'm paranoid and thinks this could be
the problem (although I don't know any symptoms) but I am
also behind a well-configured (I believe) router. Thanks.