Windows XP Computer Stalling (not crashing)

[Hunter]

Most of the time my computer works as expected.
However, about once a day or so, the computer stalls:
Currently opened programs run fine, quickly, etc. but if
I try to open a new program, it takes 10-30 minutes to
open it, but once its opened, it works fine.

Any ideas what is wrong with my computer, how I could a)
diagnose the problem or better yet b) fix it?

Thanks

 

[Yves Leclerc]

First, run sn up to date anti-virus software and also an up to date spyware
detection utility. This is so that your computer has not be taken over by
someone else. Also, if you are using broadband Internet (cable or DSL)
access and it is directly connected to this PC, make sure a software
firewall is installed.


Second: Please list out your hardware configuration so that other may help
you is diagnosing the stalling problem (could be hardware related?)

Y.