MSN Random error - occasionally

[cfraser]

Hi folks!! I am an avid Windows 2000 user and I am just about the only
16 year old I know who actually has 2 healthy computers - minus this
small problem I am about to tell you!!

I have had MSN version 7 for about 6 weeks, running on Microsoft
Windows 2000. Twice, in that time, I have been just going about my
business when all of a sudden out of the blue, everything starts
flickering on screen and I am forced to hold in the power button until
the machine powers off. (CTRL+ALT+DEL, CTRL+SHIFT+ESC, and folding
over the lid don't work)

It seems to happen all out of the random (like I said it has only
happened twice) and it seems completely unconnected to anything else.
I am running IE6, with the SP4, SP4 Rollup and a few of the other
updates applied here and there. Along with that, Zonealarm 2 (after a
recent experience with contemporary ZAs I refuse to use them), Ad-
Aware, Spybot, AVG Free and Spywareblaster.

I admit I DO browse the net pretty much constantly with IE these days,
using Firefox less and less because of sites not working in it. I know
IE is the least secure way to browse, what with it being integrated
into the OS and forming the HTML subsystem :S I know all this....
Having said that, my firewall does a kick ass job at deflecting access
attempts (when I am at home on the dial-up it gives me warning about
every 2 minutes) and we, here at Student Residences, are also behind a
LAN.

So... Anyone got any ideas? Like I say I normally manage to keep my
machines in tip-top condition and this is only a very rare problem -
who knows, it may never happen again. Ty for any help!!!

[cfraser]

Thanks anyone for your help but I have got round the problem by
upgrading a lot of what was on my machine. Thanks anyway!