DRAW & PHOTOPAINT hangs....

I often times work with bitmap images of various file types in CorelDraw - usually using them as a background to trace or create vector images of the bitmap, then eventually deleting them.  I also often times double-click on the bitmap to open this linked copy within PhotoPaint so that I can tweak it by erasing part of the image.  Once I finish editing the bitmap in PhotoPaint, I do a File>Save, and close out PhotoPaint.  The bitmap that was in CorelDraw updates to the newer version.  This used to work mostly flawless - although occasionally It would hang, and then I'd have to restart everything.  My computer system at the time was running Windows 7, 32-bit with AMD 3.4GHz with 4MG ram.  

My IT guy has updated my computer to a Windows 7, 64-bit AMD 3.4GHz, with 8MG ram.  Now EVERYTIME I work with a bitmap in PhotoPaint that is in my CorelDraw workspace - the two programs ALWAYS hang...    anyone noticed this?  anyone have any thoughts for my IT guy to check?   thanks for your time...