Windows 7 - Windows freezing up at the same places...

First post - kindly redirect me if this is posted in the wrong place


Problem: Our laptop has been freezing up lately (vague, I know, and I apologize...)

From what I've seen, it freezes up at just two different times.

1) When we're on the internet. We pull up Internet Explorer, go about our business, and after several clicks (usually just a few, actually), it freezes up and the busy cursor just keeps going. Then when we click on Close, nothing happens. Same when we go through the Task Manager. Or even just try to minimize or bring up the Start menu.

2) When we're logging off or shutting down. It'll stay on the Logging Off or Shutting Down screen with the busy cursor going. My mother pressed Shut Down one day, walked away, came back hours later, and the computer was still "Shutting Down..."

In both instances, the only way I can get it to do anything is to shut it down - improperly, of course, just by pressing the power button. And I know that's probably not helping matters. I'm not sure if it's something I might be able to tackle myself or if I should just take it to a pro.

Additional info:
It's a fairly new HP Pavilion dv5, no more than 6 months old. These problems started just a week ago, and it had no problems prior to that. We have had full virus protection with Norton since we bought it.

Thanks guys, if you can help.
- MMC.

Try a really good "cleaning" and run sfc/scannow.

In order to perform a thorough cleaning of your Windows OS (official way):

Click your Start Orb
In the Start Search box, type "cleanmgr /sageset"
Hold CTRL + SHIFT on your keyboard, and click on the "cleanmgr /sageset" shown
Once it loads up, check ALL of the boxes (that you feel are necessary)
---- My personal opinion, do not check "Service Pack Backup Files" just in case
After you have checked the boxes of the areas you wish to clean, click "OK"
Next, click your Start Orb
In the Start Search box, type "cleanmgr"
Hold CTRL + SHIFT and click on the "cleanmgr" shown
Let it scan. Once it finishes scanning, check ALL of the boxes, then click "OK"
-
And there ya go.