[ale] ip_tables error message

[linuxnews at wormfishin.com]

i've got a machine that i just recently installed linux on, every 10 
minutes or so I get a "ip_tables: (C) 2000-2002 Netfilter core team" once 
I get this I can't ping the interface until i hit the enter key.  I've 
replaced the cable, NIC, hub, hard drive and memory, I looked around on 
Google but everything seemed to point back the the NIC, anyone have any 
suggestions?

Nick