mouse and display freezes for a few seconds

what are your computer specs?  CPU, RAM, operating system, and video card?

what does "4 gig 500 memory" mean, chuck?  I don't understand what you're saying.

what's your CPU speed?  4GHz?
what memory?  500M?  that's really low for running win7.  and is it win7x32 or win7x64bit?

intel graphics means you're running the video from the motherboard.  is this a laptop?  if not, get a better graphics card with its own dedicated memory.  you don't need a "gamer" video card, but something with dedicated memory.

if it's a laptop then upgrading the RAM will help with graphics problems because the video card shares memory with the CPU.  even if it's not a laptop, tho and if I understand your specs correctly, 500M is way too low.  minimum system requirements for X1 is 4G of RAM and since you're running win7, it wouldn't hurt to have more IF you're running 64bit win7.  if you're running 32bit win7 then 4G is the highest you can get (and even then it's really only going to see a little over 3G but that will be sufficient).

thanks chuck - I try!

ok - the stalling and freezing - that's going to have to do with the soundcard and its drivers.  are you using your onboard soundcard or have you bought a recording soundcard?  if you're using your onboard soundcard you need to get a new soundcard - check my website for recommendations.  for a laptop you'll need a USB one (or firewire IF your laptop has firewire ports and IF they're TI chipset).

you can't update the graphics card in the laptop.  and that's not the problem - I didn't realize you meant the system was stalling on playback, I thought you meant the graphics were freezing up (not during playback).

I've had a few problems with X1 myself.  it has crashed on me a couple of times during recording and the metronome stopped working, but I may have solved those problems.  I have the met back again now and I haven't had any more crashes.  fingers crossed!