Screen Freezes for no apparent reason

Yes, like the title says. My dad's computer, sometimes freezes, and the only way to get it working again is to restart.

Its a Windows XP. Its his computer, so I don't know what he has done that triggered the problem. But one thing we noted is that it doesn't freeze when we are offline. Only when we are connected online.

Following are some of the details that I've gotten off Belarc:

Operating System
Windows XP Media Center Edition Service Pack 2 (build 2600)

Processor
2.80 gigahertz Intel Pentium 4
8 kilobyte primary memory cache
512 kilobyte secondary memory cache

System Model
No details available

Main Circuit Board
Board: ASUSTeK Computer INC. P4V8X-X Rev 1.xx
Bus Clock: 133 megahertz
BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. 1004.009 11/12/2003

Memory Modules
768 Megabytes Installed Memory

Slot 'DIMM0' has 256 MB
Slot 'DIMM1' has 512 MB
Slot 'DIMM2' is Empty

Drives
40.02 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
21.50 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-S222A [CD-ROM drive]
3.5" format removeable media [Floppy drive]

ST340014A [Hard drive] (40.02 GB) -- drive 0, s/n 5JX7Y4QQ, rev 3.06, SMART Status: Healthy

Bus Adapters
VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller (4x)
VIA USB Enhanced Host Controller

Communications
WL230USB Wireless B+G USB 2.0 Adapter #3

If there's other info that you need do let me know. One thing to add(in case its the source of the problem) is that we also have an internal wireless network.

Any help from you guys is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

What anti-virus software does he have? Any 3rd party firewall? Are the wireless drivers up to date? Try uninstalling and reinstalling them. We need to know if there are any major hardware or software changes preceding the problem.

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Thanks alot for helping out with this. I'm kinda new to this. So I'll need some guidance.

Currently using BitDefender. But i checked and there's error updating. So im replacing it with AVG anti virus (any better recommendations than AVG?). Currently downloading.

As for the driver, im downloading the latest version now. How do I update it? Through the device manager>properties?

And how to find out about the third party firewall?

Well, my dad had this problem for quite a while already. And I have been away. So its quite far back to remember what hardware or software changes that has been made.

Oh, and to add, I did open the case and clean the insides with a vacuum and a paintbrush. But it still freezes.

You shouldn't have to use device manager to install the driver. First use add/remove programs to look for any entries for the device, right click and select uninstall. Reboot the computer with the device disconnected. Save the the zip file to your desktop, open it up, and click on extract all files. Open up the folder, and then go into utilities. Double click on setup.exe and follow the instructions.

For 3rd party software look through add/remove programs. Zone alarm is one firewall.

As for antivirus I use Avira but Avast is also good. I don't really like AVG anymore.

Let us know how everything goes.

Okay, doesnt look like there's any 3rd party. But at the same time, I don't see the wireless device on the add/remove hardware.

AVG is already installed and updated. But the computer still keeps freezing

Add/remove programs not hardware.

Yeah, sorry, I meant add/remove programs. No wireless program.

Well then I suppose that you'll have to use device manager to remove the driver. Afterwords remove the adapter, reboot, and then run setup.exe and follow the instructions.

I have done what you said and run the setup. But its installed into /program files. And when i plug in the wireless device it is not associated to it. And i tried to use "install from specific location" to show it to the setup.exe file but when i click on the "utilities" folder (when browse), the "okay" button doesn't "turn on". So I cant click the okay.

What do you mean by associated to it? Did the installation complete without any errors? If it did the driver should be on your computer so instead of installing specific location have it automatically search for the driver. The "search a specific location " is wanting you to point it to the folder that contains the driver not the installer. That is why it wouldn't let you finish. That is an alternative if the automatic install doesn't work. Did the setup file install a program that you can run? Try using that.