prob with linux freezing using gui--help

[sahti]

I just installed Linux-Mandrake 7.2. Redhat (not sure which version) was on the machine before and KDE seemed to work fine. I have the disks and manual for Mandrake so that's why I switched. I can start a gui (I've used KDE, GNOME and SawFish) with out any problems. But when I start to use applications in the gui it freezes up on me. Any help would be much appreciated.

Specs:
AMD K5 166
32 Megs
ATI Graphics Pro Turbo (2 Megs)

Thanks

[rod]

How much memory and swap space do you have?

[sahti]

rod-

32 megs RAM
66 megs swap