Why is msgsrv32 not responding

Recentally I have been having a problem with my computer slowing down, and at times a freeze up where I have to shut it down and reboot. Before I do that, I hit the ctrl-alt-delete to see what is hanging me up, and most of the time it is hi-lighting ‘msgsrv32 not responding’ What is causing that?
I am running Windows 98SE, and recentally downloaded a free set of grafics from “Animation Factory” from Ulead.com, had a upgrading of AOL IM, both on the same day. Could either one of those cause the problem? And what exactly is msgsrv32? And what do I do to correct it?