OT: A computer annoyance - help wanted!

[Xrati]

Try increasing the swap file size if it is not on auto. Its sounds more and more as if your going to have to reinstall. Something is using or limiting resources to the point where there is no noticable usage on the processor but the structure of the process has broken down into small packets being processed. Basically, it's the memory management or lack of it. Probably a corrupted file.