internet explorer not responding alot

hi, i have checked the other posts already, and read the forum rules, so i think that i am posting this correctly. forgive me if i made some mistake, i am a brand new member. (hello everybody)

okay, so as my subject suggests, i am having a problem with internet explorer. i am relatively advanced in my computer use, and i have tried many remedies.

1. i have bit defender firewall/virus protection, it is always running, and i scan my comp. regularly.
2. i have some malware programs, hijack this, pc tools, ad aware, ect, and they are all up to date. i ran them all, and they all come up blank.
there is absolutely nothing in my hijack this logs that i cannot personally identify as safe, although i am perfectly willing to share a log if asked.
3. i have tried reinstalling internet explorer. this doesn't effect anything.

okay, i also want to mention that i did a couple of things that may have caused this problem. these things happened in or around the time i noticed increased problems.
1. i tried to install IE 8 beta like a year ago, and it didn't work right at all, so i reverted back to 7.
2. i also changed virus programs because my old one (symantec) ran out. first i tried AVG8 free, but it made my computer run really slow, so i removed it and bought bitdefender instead.

also of note would be that i have disabled the parental control and indentity control in bitdefender, because i thought it might help, or let my computer run faster.
and i would like to say that i believe i did clean uninstalls/installs throughout all of my program changes, and the registry has been maintained well.

this problem is most prevalent in certain situations, most notably when viewing facebook, or hotmail specifically, but sometimes it happens on Allmusic Guide, or youtube, or some other sites. but it NEVER happens when i use Gmail or yahoo mail or wikipedia.

i will provide whatever info is needed, please help.
ps, i have been thinking that this may be a bitdefender problem? or maybe my internet security & privacy settings? (they are both set to medium-high)

thanks for taking the time to read this.
brian

 

HI AGAIN!
thanks for the suggestion.
i installed firefox, and so far, it hasn't crashed like IE7 does on some sites.
could it just be bitdefender poorly interacting with IE7?

i'm really not sure.

so, anyway, i went through my registry with a fine tooth comb, and i found a couple of remnants of malware that were no longer functioning,and eradicated them. but i don't really know if there is a problem with the IE7 registry entries, or the plug-ins.

also of note is that i chose NOT to import anything when i installed firefox out of fear that an add-on or something would cause problems with it.

so it's just new this install, but it's displaying facebook like a champ! i can open several tabs of profiles, and other windows... no crash, so far.
if there is a development i will post the situation, but I'll stick with this for now.

since this is probably a IE7 problem, can you help me sort that out? or do you think it's doomed?
-brian