hello Computer freezes

hello everyone i am haveing some computer issues and have gotten a lil help for here before so hopfully i can get some more

i have an older compaq pesario with pentium 3 processor , with windows xp, and
when u start it up and get to your desk top as soon as you try to open something then try to do anything it freezes and the hd stops doing anything and it never unfreezes untill u restart and get the same thing , is there any program that i can put on a cd from another computer and scan it and fix it?

 

i havent tried that yet
i will try that and let you guys know

 

Areas to look at.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Troubleshooting-Computer-Freeze-(Lockup)-Problems&id=39981