Lots of things to look at here.
Usually freeze-ups are due to a heavy load of TSR's (terminate and stay resident programs). To check your systems *burden*. Press Ctrl-Alt&Delete (all 3 together) while in windows (95, 98 & ME).
This will bring up a Close program screen... listed here ALL the programs currently running. Yes, there's more than one. If this list is more than a dozen expect a crash or two (a little generality here, but from my experience true).
Does this screen show any NON-RESPONDING programs? There's the bug. Highlight and click close at the bottom to can the bugger (at least temporarily). To permanently kill it either a-remove the program or b-disable the program using 'msconfig' [google search: msconfig].
There, I've given you enough to make you dangerous. Restart and enjoy.
PS: Do yourself a favor and right click in the menus and choose 'sort by name' then, go to your startup folder and move or remove the bulk of files there. Most are just fluff.
Whee.. a 25 PC Veteran.
