System always freezes with 2.4b

My system freezes every time I try to record a track. I've got an AMD 1.4 Ghz processor, an Asus A7V 266 motherboard, 512 Mhz of DDR memory, a 40 gig hard drive, a Philips Acoustic Edge sound card, and Windows ME. I shut down all programs except for Explorer and Systray. I've had the computer into the shop twice, and they assure me all the hardware's working properly. I've had many hours of frustration and difficulty over the last few weeks. I'm still trying to record my first record. Can anyone help me with this?