Internet Explorer stops and freezes

[joepinger]

I am running on an acer notebook with windows vista home premium.  For some time now off and on the Internet Explorer will stop and freeze on me and it seems to be constant now.  It will look like it is working.  I will explain it shows a blue circle swirling like it's doing something but it just swirls and swirls.  Back a year or so ago it did the same thing and I tried Microsoft Support and did the Reset Internet Exploere settings and it worked fine for awhile, after I performed that action but it's doing the loop like thing again.  I have recently installed Webroot Spysweeper and Norton Internet Security but I did that last year too and had trouble then but it worked fine after awhile.  I did disk cleanup and installed ccleaner and cleaned  and some other things.  Can anyone assess this for me thank you.

[Broni]

Close IE.
Go Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools, and click on Internet Explorer (no add-ons). Same thing?

Is Firefox OK?

[joepinger]

I don't know what you are trying to tell me.  I read that IE 8 is better and faster.  Is this true?  What options do I have besides the one you just posted?  Thanks.

[Broni]

I'm trying to tell you to run IE without add-ons, and see, if it'll work fine.
I also want you to try another browser, Firefox, to see, if it's browser problem, or something else.

[joepinger]

Ok thanks also my pc runs slow and it swirls but since I've been on the computer today it hasn't swirled as of yet.  I did try firefox earlier and it didn't work any faster.   So anyway that is a plus.  Maybe my security is missing something.  Well I don't know.  Thanks.

[Broni]

1.  Did you try IE with no add-ons?

2. Please, post some computer info:
- processor type, amount of RAM (hold Windows logo key, hit Pause/Break key)
- hard drive size/free space (open "My Computer", right click on hard drive letter, click "Properties")
- security programs in use (antivirus, firewall)

3. Download HijackThis:
http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/tools/security_tools/hijackthis/download
by clicking on Download HijackThis Installer
Install, and run it.
Post HijackTHis log.

NOTE. If you're using Vista, right click on HijackThis, and click Run as Administrator

[joepinger]

How do I run IE without add ons?

[Broni]

Re-read my reply #1.

[joepinger]

I have an Acer Notebook 5100 series with Windows Vista Home Premium.  AMD Turion 64 X2 dual core TL-50/TL-56/TL-60/TL-62 processor or higher with 4 gb of Ram.  I have 30 percent free disk space at 10.9 gb and 22.5 gb of used disk space on the c drive. with a capacity of 33.5 gb.  I have Windows Firewall, Webroot Antivirus with Antispyware with Webroot Firewall and Norton Internet Security with it's firewall.

[Broni]

I still need you to answer my two other questions.
Are you running Windows firewall, and Norton firewall? Not a good idea.
BTW, Norton itself may be one of your problems.

[joepinger]

No I didn't run IE without addons.  Yes I have Norton and Webroot firewalls.

[Broni]

Look. We can go at it for a whole night.
You need to follow my suggestions, and when you're done, we'll go from there.

[joepinger]

I am running IE with no add ons

[Broni]

and?

[joepinger]

And nothing, it's still slow loading and earlier I got an error message saying "Internet Explorer has stopped working and is restarting".  I'm guessing that didn't work.  What now?  Thank you.