Search inoperable

i have winXP Pro and recently search does not work, when
i pull up task manager after any amount of time, it says
that it is not responding. any ideas on my problem? Also
around the same time i have started experiencing system
lockups or hangs.....most the time when the system is
idle....with no windows open or minimized and with any
combination of of open/minimized and the like. more
recently i have been getting them playing games online as
well. i have run McAfee Virus scan online and stinger and
it has came up clean everytime. also i have adaware and
it runs everytime i reboot...and finds nothing. i have a
linksys router and i am safe behind its firewall. i
think...lol. been beating my head against the wall on
this longenough....any ideas out there? Thanks in advance
for any help at all. i did read that overheating may be a
problem but my Abit IC7-Max3 mobo says all the temps well
within specs....although the nb fan is dying. still the
temps all are way within specs. HELP!

Search inoperable