Java making my computer freeze

[BustaRomeo]

This is a very new problem. I can't remember the last time I used a Java program/game or whatever on the net all I know is the only thing that happened between now and the last time I can remember is that I upgraded my graphics card.

What happens is everytime I use anything that has to do with Java (even if I go to the Java control panel) my computer starts freezing. It's weird though. It freezes completely, and then all goes back to normal for less than a second, then it freezes, goes back to normal, freezes...you get it. It will stop when I can't see whatever is using Java. So say I'm trying to play a Java game in IE, it will start freezing, all I have to do is open up or switch to another IE page, so that I can't see the Java applet and all is fine and I can quit the IE page that's causing the problem. Like I said it does this as well when I go to the Java control panel, and to make it stop freezing I have to open up some other program so that it blocks it out so that I can't see it.

Another thing I noticed is that when it freezes my computer fans slow down ever so slightly, enough for me to hear that they're slowing down. Is that normal?

Please help this is all very strange and annoying. Thanks.

[Gizmo]

Have you done any malware scans? I found this article that might be of interest.

[Statica]

Have you tried updating the version of Java that you're running?