well, thought i'd post an update to let folks know what's happening with my situation.
based on the advice i received here, i put the new version of hoster (3.3.2.1) on the computer, and i added ram to comply with the recommendation of 1gb.
my client set the new computer up on thursday night for the big test. the equipment was solid as a rock. you can't imagine how relieved i was.
the only comment i got from the client was that the play and stop buttons are reversed from the positions they occupied in the version of hoster he's been accustomed to. because he used that version for so long, he's used to clicking play and then starting to adjust the sound levels without even looking at the computer screen. so he found himself clicking the stop button a lot of times and then realizing a couple of seconds later that no music was starting. so other than wondering why the buttons locations were switched, i'm feeling pretty good right now.
