Web Browser Freezing - Help Please!

All, I am having the following problem with a Dell laptop running Vista Home Premium:

Firefox or IE freeze randomly, and can only be made to work again by doing a Restart.
I normally use Firefox, when it freezes I can close it down but on re opening I get a Firefox window which says the Firefox 'process' is already running. On checking through Task Manager or Win Patrol though Firefox does not show as an active process, program, or task, and so I have no chioce but to restart the machine.

I have done the obvious things of virus and spyware scans and complete uninstall and re install of both Firefox and IE8 but still the problem persists.

I would be most grateful for any suggestions,
Thanks!

Try restoring your pc to an earlier time.


Paul

Paul, Thanks for suggestion but I dont have a restore point available thats old enough to sort this out, should have mentioned this in the original post.

Cheers

OK then I suggest something like Registry Mechanic as it may be to do with problems in the registry.


Paul