It is an ABS sensor issue when you are getting unintended ABS activation. With a good scan tool you can monitor ABS wheel speed sensor data and normally see which sensor the computer "thinks" is dropping out. It gets a bit more complicated than that, but for the "short story" you get the idea.

I should mention that I just took AOL off my computer after 8 years. I understand AOL leaves bits of itself all over as well. When I followed your instructions I ran into a snag but tried to continue on. Hopefully Norton is gone. Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2 Scan saved at 4:17:56 PM, on 4/8/2009 Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600) MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180) Boot mode: Normal Running processes: C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe C:\Program Files\Microsoft Windows OneCare Live\Antivirus\MsMpEng.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\brsvc01a.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\brss01a.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe c:\windows\explorer.exe C:\Program Files\Common Files\Acronis\Schedule2\schedul2.exe C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe C:\Program Files\Carbonite\Carbonite Backup\carboniteservice.exe C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE C:\Program Files\Microsoft Windows OneCare Live\OcHealthMon.exe C:\Program Files\Microsoft Windows OneCare Live\winssnotify.exe C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe C:\Program Files\SUPERAntiSpyware\SUPERAntiSpyware.exe C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\SMAgent.exe C:\Program Files\Comcast\Desktop Doctor\bin\sprtsvc.exe C:\Program Files\Microsoft Windows OneCare Live\Firewall\msfwsvc.exe C:\Program Files\Microsoft Windows OneCare Live\winss.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://red.clientapps.yahoo.com/customize/ie/defaults/sb/ymsgr6/*http://www.yahoo.com/ext/search/search.html R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.comcast.net/ R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Window Title = Windows Internet Explorer provided by Comcast R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local F2 - REG:system.ini: Shell=c:\windows\explorer.exe F2 - REG:system.ini: UserInit=c:\windows\system32\userinit.exe O2 - BHO: (no name) - "02478D38-C3F9-4efb-9B51-7695ECA05670> - (no file) O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - "06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3> - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll O2 - BHO: WormRadar.com IESiteBlocker.NavFilter - "3CA2F312-6F6E-4B53-A66E-4E65E497C8C0> - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgssie.dll (file missing) O2 - BHO: Spybot-S&D IE Protection - "53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F> - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - "AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7> - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Notifier BHO - "AF69DE43-7D58-4638-B6FA-CE66B5AD205D> - C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\5.1.1309.3572\swg.dll O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - "DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9> - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll O2 - BHO: JQSIEStartDetectorImpl - "E7E6F031-17CE-4C07-BC86-EABFE594F69C> - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\deploy\jqs\ie\jqs_plugin.dll O3 - Toolbar: &Google - "2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F> - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [EPSON Stylus Photo R220 Series] C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\E_FATIAIA.EXE /P30 "EPSON Stylus Photo R220 Series" /O6 "USB001" /M "Stylus Photo R220" O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [OneCareUI] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Windows OneCare Live\winssnotify.exe" O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe" O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [swg] C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SUPERAntiSpyware] C:\Program Files\SUPERAntiSpyware\SUPERAntiSpyware.exe O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [Symantec Network Driver Update Warning] C:\PROGRA~1\Symantec\LIVEUP~1\SNDWarn.EXE (User 'SYSTEM') O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [Symantec NetDriver Warning] C:\PROGRA~1\SYMNET~1\SNDWarn.exe (User 'SYSTEM') O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\RunOnce: [SRUUninstall] "C:\WINDOWS\System32\msiexec.exe" /x "6AF90EF6-F7F9-466C-99F4-1774826FBB40> /qn REBOOT=ReallySuppress (User 'SYSTEM') O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [Symantec Network Driver Update Warning] C:\PROGRA~1\Symantec\LIVEUP~1\SNDWarn.EXE (User 'Default user') O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\RunOnce: [SRUUninstall] "C:\WINDOWS\System32\msiexec.exe" /x "6AF90EF6-F7F9-466C-99F4-1774826FBB40> /qn REBOOT=ReallySuppress (User 'Default user') O8 - Extra context menu item: Add to Google Photos Screensa&ver - res://C:\WINDOWS\system32\GPhotos.scr/200 O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000 O9 - Extra button: Run WinHTTrack - "36ECAF82-3300-8F84-092E-AFF36D6C7040> - C:\Program Files\WinHTTrack\WinHTTrackIEBar.dll O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Launch WinHTTrack - "36ECAF82-3300-8F84-092E-AFF36D6C7040> - C:\Program Files\WinHTTrack\WinHTTrackIEBar.dll O9 - Extra button: ComcastHSI - "669B269B-0D4E-41FB-A3D8-FD67CA94F646> - http://www.comcast.net/ (file missing) O9 - Extra button: Support - "8828075D-D097-4055-AA02-2DBFA9D85E8A> - http://www.comcastsupport.com/ (file missing) O9 - Extra button: Research - "92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263> - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL O9 - Extra button: Help - "97809617-3937-4F84-B335-9BB05EF1A8D4> - http://online.comcast.net/help/ (file missing) O9 - Extra button: Real.com - "CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE> - C:\WINDOWS\System32\Shdocvw.dll O9 - Extra button: (no name) - "DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2> - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Spybot - Search & Destroy Configuration - "DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2> - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll O9 - Extra button: Messenger - "FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683> - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - "FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683> - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe O9 - Extra button: Ebates - "6685509E-B47B-4f47-8E16-9A5F3A62F683> - file://C:\Program Files\Ebates_MoeMoneyMaker\Sy350\Tp350\scri350a.htm (file missing) (HKCU) O16 - DPF: "01118400-3E00-11D2-8470-0060089874ED> (SdcNetCheckCtl Class) - http://activex.microsoft.com/objects/ocget.dll O16 - DPF: "17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700> (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39204 O16 - DPF: "2253F320-AB68-4A07-917D-4F12D8884A06> (ChainCast VMR Client Proxy) - http://www.streamaudio.com/download/ccpm_0237.cab O16 - DPF: "231B1C6E-F934-42A2-92B6-C2FEFEC24276> (yucsetreg Class) - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\common\yucconfig.dll O16 - DPF: "6F750200-1362-4815-A476-88533DE61D0C> (Ofoto Upload Manager Class) - http://www.ofoto.com/downloads/BUM/BUM_WIN_IE_1/axofupld.cab O16 - DPF: "88D969C0-F192-11D4-A65F-0040963251E5> (XML DOM Document 4.0) - file://C:\TempEI4\EI40_\msxml4.cab O16 - DPF: "AD5AE604-34F2-4C7C-AEBB-14D424294A76> - http://www.interoagent.com/SyncInstaller/ReportGenerator/ReportGenerator.cab O16 - DPF: "B9191F79-5613-4C76-AA2A-398534BB8999> - http://us.dl1.yimg.com/download.yahoo.com/dl/installs/suite/autocomplete.cab O20 - Winlogon Notify: !SASWinLogon - C:\Program Files\SUPERAntiSpyware\SASWINLO.dll O23 - Service: Acronis Scheduler2 Service (AcrSch2Svc) - Acronis - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Acronis\Schedule2\schedul2.exe O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe O23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2sgag.exe O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe O23 - Service: BrSplService (Brother XP spl Service) - brother Industries Ltd - C:\WINDOWS\system32\brsvc01a.exe O23 - Service: CarboniteService - Carbonite, Inc. (www.carbonite.com) - C:\Program Files\Carbonite\Carbonite Backup\carboniteservice.exe O23 - Service: Google Software Updater (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\1050\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Documents and Settings\Ginny\My Documents\Jen\bin\iPodService.exe O23 - Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Sun Microsystems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe O23 - Service: Pml Driver HPZ12 - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\HPZipm12.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: SoundMAX Agent Service (SoundMAX Agent Service (default)) - Analog Devices, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\SMAgent.exe O23 - Service: SupportSoft Sprocket Service (ddoctorv2) (sprtsvc_ddoctorv2) - SupportSoft, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Comcast\Desktop Doctor\bin\sprtsvc.exe -- End of file - 9201 bytes

Mine freezes up fairly regularly here with both IE and Firefox. I blame Vista though - I hate it hate it hate it, but unless I spent a stinkin' fortune on a Mac (I need a laptop rather than a desktop) I didn't have any other choice when my old laptop bit the dust last December. I've run multiple antiviral and anti-malware software packages to no avail. HP has no answers and tells me I can't wipe the hard drive and reinstall an older version of Windoze due to hardware incompatibility issues. Feh. I'm far too brainfogged to try to negotiate Linux. I do back up obsessively - my 'puter has a dual hard drive so I use the second drive to back up the first as well as using a couple of flash drives for documents, photos, and email. Those are dirt cheap now so there's no excuse not to have at least one! There's also a plethora of free online file storage sites to take advantage of. At least if I'm halfway through a post Firefox will usually get it back for me, I'll give it that, and it does import your bookmarks during the installation process. Oh, side note: some manufacturers are doing a really crappy thing and storing an image of your hard drive for a system restore in such a way that it is bollixed up by a defrag. Ran into that problem a few years back and had to spend nearly $50 on a set of restore DVDs as well as spending hours on the phone with tech support (in India, natch). Therefore, you should check your documentation before defragging.

If you've checked the things that could have an indirect effect by choking resources - ie, you don't have too many windows open at the same time, you've cleared cache and history in the browser, your hard drive isn't near capacity and has been recently cleaned up and defragged, then you may be stuck. An old version installation of something like an antivirus program is likely to be auto-updated with the periodic check for threat profiles, which should happen no less than weekly. Meaning, you're fighting a losing battle. The old version will likely get replaced with the first update. If you can't find happiness with Avast, it may be time for you to try a different security program. A recent thread in this forum had a link to an article containing independent ratings. Good luck.