freezing toad

Hello,

I have toad version 9.7.2.5 on brand new installation of winXP SP3.
When I choose to connect to database ( ver. 10.1.0.3.0), toad freezes for a minute;
the same in case I choose ‘end connection’
When I connect to 8.1.7.0.0 database, freezing is not happening.

I used toad ver. 8.5.3.2, to connect to the same database
with the same oracle client without such problems

Can you pls, give me advice which settings in toad should I change in
order to avoid this freezing?

thanks a lot
Adenin