Net Connect Freezes

I just built a system with an old Epox KT (VIA 686B) motherboard, 1.4 GHz Athlon, 300 Watt PSU, 10GB HDD, Artec CD-RW, GeForce 2, 56K Modem, Windows XP Sp1 (just Sp1, no other Windows Updates, although Sp1 encompasses some of the other seperately available updates) and the latest hyperion drivers.
Whenever the system connected to the internet, after an indeterminate length of time the system would freeze. It's just had a new 40GB 8MB Cache WD HDD and 400 Watt PSU put in and a reinstall with first the older VIA 4in1 drivers (4.43 I think) (still froze) and then the newest Hyperions (still froze). I have also used nVidia drivers 40.72 and the latest WHQL certified ones for use with GeForce 2 (released Oct 2003).
There is no conflicting programs with IE, there is nothing else installed except for MS Office. The 56K modem does work on my own system when tested, no freezes. I am contemplating using another browser although I very much doubt this is the cause of my problems. I've trawled the net looking for answers and I can't seem to find any, can any of you Hexus folks help?

Change PCI slot for the modem. I bet you'll find one it prefers.

Do ya reckon? Hmmm, i'll go try that right now, stick around ;)

You have a VIA chipset... yes I reckon.

I had a PC that froze on me very occasionally for many months. One day I went to the efford of rejumbling all 5 PCI cards, and found that the sound card liked the middle slot.

That was a VIA KT133A chipset.

I'd go through all the software stuff, but you seem to have done it already. The only thing I could say is get drivers from the manu sites, not windows update - the WU ones suck.

Working so far, but the system froze after about 2 hours once, so i'll have to wait a bit longer :). Cheers Kez.

Yeah that's always the problem with freezups - you never know when they're goi.....

heheheh 'hits kez in frustration and presses restart'

Well try them all! I once had a modem that would only work in the PCI slot that was unavailable... we had to make it available with a lot of hassle!

also - boot into safe mode and see if any reduandant devices are listed there (ie modems more than once etc.) Uninstall any suspect ones - they will reinstall if you remove the wrong ones anyway...

edit - and what modem chipset or model is it - googling for it and "freeze" or "lockup" might reveal something...

Heheh nah, I was jokin' before, I moved it and it hasn't frozen yet for a good few hours, must be fixed, thanks for the tip!