Flashing address bar

Running Windows XP, using IE8. About two weeks ago, whenever I log on to my computer, the blue Windows bar at the bottom of the screen pops up and down hyperactively, as though it's forever trying to load something. The "e" icon for IE will also be flashing.

When I open IE, the address bar flashes, and it won't let me type in a URL. I can get around this by clicking the "stop load" button, opening a new tab, and then clicking in the second tab's flashing address bar. The flashing then stops, and I can navigate normally.

At its worst, the computer will go through these spastic motions and I can't run anything, and can't even access the start button. The only way around that is to press ctrl-alt-delete; then I can operate the computer.

I wasn't doing anything out of the ordinary when this began. I use this computer, a laptop, solely for surfing the net, listening to podcasts on iTunes, and watching DVDs.

I posted in the Malware forum. They found no malware and suggested I post here. I've since removed IE, since they said it was a browser issue. I'm running Firefox and am still having the same problem.

Thanks in advance for any advice you're able to offer! This has been a fantastic resource!

 

you might also want to remove or disable any add ons that are installed. They can be on both IE and Firefox. try starting firefox in safe mode (add ons disabled). Should be in your start menu under programs/mozilla firefox

 

Thanks for the suggestions. Here's what WinPatrol lists as my Startup programs:

ATICCC
SynTPEnh
Broadcom Wireless Manager UI
SigmatelSysTrayApp
DVDLauncher
DLA
ISUSPM Startup
ISUSScheduler
iTunesHelper
avast!
Run StartupMonitor
WinPatrol
DellSupport
swg
ctfmon.exe
Digital Line Detection
HotSync Manager Application
McAfee Security Scanner Scheduler
quickstart


Does anything stand out to you as being unnecessary, or a potential suspect? Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer!