My computer starts pausing after being on for a couple hours! HELP!!!

[WeaponX]

I turn my computer on, and start playing or doing work. But notice that after it's been on for a couple hours, it will start pausing for fractions of a second every couple seconds. This is quite annoying when I'm playing games, listening to music or doing plain work. Why is the happening? If I restart the computer, it's fine again. But then after a half hour of this torture, it'll stop for about a minute and then start again. WTF?!!!
I'm running Windows 98 First Edition, I have 256 MB of DDR RAM and non oc'ed TBird 1.4 ghz. Even if I close everything open, it still keeps on pausing.

[KFB]

this is kind of a guess...
memory timings? i know that symptom you are talking about - i have seen it before. the only problem is that i can't remember how i fixed it. did you modify the memory timing/latency in BIOS?

edit: how long has the pause problem been happening?
could win98 first edition have anything to do with it? they put out second edition for certain reasons - bugs, etc.

[WeaponX]

It started about 3 - 4 weeks ago. I think it could have something to do with the network I installed. But I don't see why.

[Yodums]

Hah Windows 98 I think thats the problem, trying getting the minor service pack for the FE and all the updates.

[plague]

I had a problem like that a while ago, back when I had a 5400 rpm HDD like you. try a defrag, it could be because of windows virtual memory getting all over your drive. if you have norton utilities, even better, run speed disk and have it optimize the swap file.

[David]

Set everything at the lowest possible setting and see if that helps. If that fails then try with a different CPu and/or RAM.

Try just the Mobo, PSU, CPU, RAm and vcard.

[mcrites]

So how does one become an annoying member? :D OH NM! :cool:

[Caffinehog]

If I remember correctly, Win98 original can have problems with memory... It leaves things in the memory and forgets about them. Then you run out of physical memory, and hence the slowdowns.

[earthdick]

I remember having the same pauses with Win98. Try setting your memory timings in the bios as has been suggested. But I think it is like Caffinehog posted, it might just be your OS hogging your memory.