[face=Arial][/face] All seems normal untill...If I connect the modem manualy it is REAL predomanent. If I let a program bring up the modem connect dialog, is not as bad. Have waited as long as 14 minutes and every instruction from the time it frooze (mouse clicks) will all pop to the desktop at one time. Then all is fine till the next simular situation.  Anyone relate to this problem. Running WinXP Home ED SP2 current updates, McAfee, ZoneAlarm. Occassionaly can get Task Manager to open, ALL sorts of activity, but cant navigate with mouse, clicks.

Sounds like the processor can't keep up with the work load, especially when you are online.
What type of processor do you have and what speed is it?
Microsoft recommends a minimum speed of 300 MHZ.
The recommended minimum RAM is 128, but most people say at least 256.
Either of these could cause problems like you are experiencing.

Intel Celeron 2.933, 512 RAM,  might add as of today adding 1Ghrt RAM, will post as to how it effected.

With that processor speed and 512 RAM, that should not be the problem.
I would check for spyware. Defragmenting the hard drive might also help.
Something is clogging up the works, bad fragmentation and spyware can both do that.