Windows explorer stops working

I am running windows vista home premium 32 bit with SP1 installed on a Toshiba Satellite laptop. The software came with the computer and it has all necessary specs to run the OS. This is a recent occurrence but now from time to time my taskbar freezes and I get the windows explorer has stopped working message and it restarts, this sometimes works and other times as soon as I try to do anything it gives the same message. Most of the time I am trying to do something simple like work the volume or activate outlook from the tray. I have recently reinstalled windows because of problems I was having from a virus and my registry was messed up. I have both AVG and spybot, neither of which found anything. Any insight would be much appreciated. Thanks

Below is the error report:

Description
A problem caused this program to stop interacting with Windows.

Problem signature
Problem Event Name: AppHangXProcB1
Application Name: Explorer.EXE
Application Version: 6.0.6001.18000
Application Timestamp: 47918e5d
Hang Signature: 7ce1
Hang Type: 128
Waiting on Application Name: svchost.exe:AudioClientRpc
Waiting on Application Version: 0.0.0.0
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Hang Signature 1: 9224369711237709974176f646a5196a
Additional Hang Signature 2: c293
Additional Hang Signature 3: 2e7212674baa691682de1d553bf97848
Additional Hang Signature 4: 7ce1
Additional Hang Signature 5: 9224369711237709974176f646a5196a
Additional Hang Signature 6: c293
Additional Hang Signature 7: 2e7212674baa691682de1d553bf97848

Extra information about the problem
Bucket ID: 157806391

 

My audio drivers are all up to date. Firefox also keeps stopping. the error report for Firefox is as follows:

Description
A problem caused this program to stop interacting with Windows.

Problem signature
Problem Event Name: AppHangB1
Application Name: firefox.exe
Application Version: 1.9.0.3224
Application Timestamp: 49094c66
Hang Signature: 0a43
Hang Type: 16900
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Hang Signature 1: cbff958c50267b7aca6eda7bb5bbdac2
Additional Hang Signature 2: 820c
Additional Hang Signature 3: 62f410f10196ff164529d368a83430fc
Additional Hang Signature 4: 0a43
Additional Hang Signature 5: cbff958c50267b7aca6eda7bb5bbdac2
Additional Hang Signature 6: 820c
Additional Hang Signature 7: 62f410f10196ff164529d368a83430fc

Extra information about the problem
Bucket ID: 375040868

 

I am really starting to wish I bought a MAC. I have never heard of such issues with them but since I have switched to Vista it has been constant.