BleepingComputer.com: Internet Explorer 7 timing out

Can someone help please. After roughly one hour of browsing, suddenly IE freezes and wont let me surf anymore unless I restart the computer. I can however, use Windows Mail, and receive updates from spyware programmes etc; so there is a connection. Its as if IE has 'timed out' and basically locked me out. When I restart everything is fine again.

I am using Vista SP 1
Zone alarm firewall
Avast anti virus
Superantispyware

** I have disabled all the 'Not verified' items in 'Manage Add-ons' which were all Java. (SSV helper was disabled first, but after a few hours, the net locked up again) I have now disabled 'Java plug in 1.6.0.07' and 1.6.0.12 (this version appears twice).
Theres nothing else 'Not verified' in there.

HP tech support have asked me to do a hard drive check, but I dont think its that.
Can anyone help please.

This post has been edited by garmanma: 27 March 2009 - 11:54 AM

Some resources:

How to Troubleshoot Internet Explorer 7 issues in Windows Vista

How To Optimize or reset Internet Explorer 7

Guided help: Internet Explorer Stops Responding, Stops Working, or Restarts