If loading takes forever you may try to defrag your HDD: https://www.piriform.com/defraggler This won't stop the crashes of course. But PS2 alters files during its updates which spreads them in several parts and that slows loading down. Also any Windows filesystem is pretty bad at avoiding fragmentation.
specs for the new pc? more ram really help the experience- I've got 16 gb, and rarely stutter, even though my pc isn't exactly a gaming computer.