Freezing up ? and a how to ?

Hello everyone! If anyone has an advice to help me fix these things, I would really appreciate it. I'd hate to have to take it to the repair place if there are easy solutions. I think my 2nd question is an easy fix but I don't even have a guess on the 1st problem.

First off, I have a "P Series FX Edition Notebook" with Windows Vista...hopefully, that is everything you need to know, but if not, please let me know. Also, I do not play games or such on it and other than the programs that came with it at purchase, I've only put one optional program on it. On start-up, I have it set up to only load the programs that I need to have (except for 1 program, which is one of my questions below).

*I have an ISP and also AOL. When I moved, I had to have the ISP but no longer really needed AOL, but my ISP has too many hoops to jump through to set up an email acct. so I keep AOL. It is an actual program (AOL) that I load to check my email because it is much easier/faster than going through IE, then go to aol.com, etc. Also, free McAfee! Finally, here's my question: what would cause my AOL program to keep freezing up my comp? It happens every single time I try to use it and it has happened since I bought this about 5 months ago. I uninstalled/reinstalled twice and it did not help. Obviously, I am unable to use AOL currently but I'd like to find out what the problem might be so I can use it again. When it freezes, I have to shut it down incorrectly (turning off power button) and I know thats not a good thing to do. It was also happening on my desktop (also Gateway) but it was ancient and I assumed that the desktop didnt have enough "juice" to run AOL. Ironically, not being able to run AOL any longer on my desktop is what led to me buying this "souped-up, plenty-o-power" computer; to be able to run any program I wanted but apparently, it didnt matter. Any ideas or suggestions? Apologies for the length but I wanted to include anything that might be of importance.

Last question: I know that wmpnscfg.exe is is the media player but how can I make it stop loading on start up? I have done the MSCONFIG many times but it still loads at every start up. I have also turned off the file sharing option on the MP. I'm sure my answer lies in the "my computer" area but I can't find it. I'm far from a comp genius but not computer illiterate either, so if anyone happens to know the answer, I can easily follow here>here>here>.
Like, go here, here, and here....
If anyone could help, I would appreciate it!

Thank you,
Mary

 

You could try using the built in email program included with Windows Vista (Windows Mail), you can go here Configure Windows Mail with AOL and you can click this link to stop wmpnscfg.exe from starting with windows.

Hope this helps.

 

It sounds like AOL is no longer the simplest solution. I would jump through the hoops to get the isp email set up, or, better yet, set up a www.Gmail.com account, so the next time you switch isps you don’t have to worry about your email, and you can start saving the money you are currently giving to AOL.

Otherwise, it looks like Ipnowlan has you covered.