Screen flashes on GeForce 5200FX

I've got the following problem:
When I browse the web by IE or Firefox or switch between pictures in Picture
Viewer my computer freezes for a second and then my monitor "flashes" (like
while changing resolution or refresh rate). Then everything goes back to the
normality. Does anybody know what is going on?

BTW: It's rather a software problem because on Linux everything's ok
BTW2: This problem doesn't occur in 3D games

My computer:
Athlon Barton 2500+
512 DDR RAM
Prolink PixelView GeForce 5200FX Ultimate
Detonators (July 2003) - I had the latest ones but this problem was 2x
annoying
AOC 7K+ Monitor
Maxtor SATA HDD
MSI mainboard (KT600 chipset with latest Hyperion drivers - in my opinion
main suspects)