I have the same system as you. You need install spyware,and virus programs, enable your windows firewall.

Try to download these and run the scans.

http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/Spybot_Search_and_Destroy/1043809773/1

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/lng/us/tpl/v5#avg-free

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=435bfce7-da2b-4a6a-afa4-f7f14e605a0d&displaylang=en

You may have Spyware or A Virus on your system and you need to protect it and remove the Spyware and Viruses.

I had the same problem.  I have Norton Internet Security and no floppy drive.  Norton is set, by default, to do a miniscan on boot.  I just brought up the Norton program and clicked "Options"  (at the top), click autoprotect-advanced.  Uncheck the two items for floppy disks.  If the miniscan doesn't find a floppy drive, it hangs.  That will make IE freeze.  It worked for me.  Different antivirus programs may have similar settings.  Check every setting you can find.  I also use the Zone Alarm (free) firewall.  You will have to train it, but it's worth it.  The Windows firewall only works one way.  Installing Zone Alarm will disable the Windows firewall.  Have only one antivirus product on your computer.  More than one can cause system instability, as per the HighJack This forum.  Hope this helps.

 

Having the same type of issue...IE freezes up when I try to use Yahoo toolbar and/or Google toolbar.  Both of which require enabling third party browser in Internet Options.  When I remove the toolbars, the problem goes away.  Weird thing is that I use these toolbars all the time on other PC's with no problem.  Any ideas why my new Dell XPS 400 should act th is way?  What should I look for in settings etc?

PB

I am currently using Google toolbar on a Dim 8400.  I have Media Center on my new one.  When I tried opening one of the functions, a pop-up box said if I wanted to use that function I had to remove the pre-installed Google.  I did and no more problem with it.  Another member suggested a re-install of Google toolbar after getting the function usable.  Have no idea if it worked or not.  Also, have no idea what the conflict was.  I have not tried to re-install it.  Another reason for IE freeze-up is that there are missing files in the IE folder.  Mine came up with that after using scannow.  I used Dell chat to ask for install disk and had it in 2 business days.  Ran scannow again and put in the disk, and everything is fine now.  They will tell you to uncheck using third party dll.s, and I politely told him that doing that would not replace missing files.  He finally agreed and said the disks were on the way.

You already have it.  It is the system file checker.  You can run it by clicking start>run>sfc /scannow.  Note the space, it is supposed to be there.  It takes about 15 minutes.  If it finds a damaged or missing file, it will let you know.  If there is something missing, all the settings in XP will not put it back.  You must have the XP install disk.  It turned out I was missing five or six files in the IE folder.  After putting them in with the disk and letting scannow finish, I haven't had a freeze at all.  Hope this helps you!

Message Edited by Judy A. on 09-04-200603:23 PM

Thanks for the advice...turns out I already have the XP disk..came with the PC...reran scannow ...reloaded my Yahoo and Google toolbars...now to see what happens...so far so good...

PB

 

Great news!  I'm going to put the Google site in my favorites.  IE has a very good popup blocker in it and I use that.  I hope Ana Castilla has gotten hers working.  Thanks for letting me know.