windows vista unresponsive after 10 minutes

wfr37,

In your opening post you describe the issues you are having, but do not state how long ago these characteristics started prior to Aug 6, or if it correlates to installing or removing any program(s).

FYI- I am running McAfee virus and firewall software provided by my ISP, Cox Communications.

What were you running/using prior to this?
Personally I am not very fond of McAfee as it has caused me more issues than resolved.

I tried unsuccessfully to get help from the Microsoft community starting around July 19th and had been having trouble approximately 3 weeks before. I don't remember installation of any programs that happened around that time.

Have been running the McAfee for more than a year. Did have a problem with it recently where the protection would not stay on. The folks at Cox said it needed to be reinstalled and walked me through the steps. I cannot be sure about the exact timing of the problem and the reinstall but the reinstall had to have happened first.

Last program I remember running was one the Kapersky suites.

I have had problems even starting up in the safe mode. I thought in that case the computer would only run Windows programs. I don't understand how programs I have installed would affect the unresponsiveness of the computer when started in safe mode. In some cases the computer became unresponsive before reaching the login screen( perhaps I became too impatient before forcing a shutdown ) and in other cases the computer became unresponsive a very very short time after login. Do I miss understand the safe startup mode works?

Do I miss understand the way safe startup mode works?

Yes wfr37,
I believe you do have a misunderstanding of what "Safe Mode" is for. Safe mode is for diagnostics only.
Also, you should never boot into Safe Mode with Networking to connect to the internet. No safety protocols or Anti-Virus protection is working.
If you have booted into safe mode with networking and connected to the internet to surf the web, your machine is very likely infected with something that by now is well embedded and undetectable. The reason I say this is that I am not finding any malware that would cause the issues you are having.

Therefor the only recourse you may have is to format and reinstall Vista.

Safe mode for Vista - Microsoft

safe mode - Wikipedia

Thanks for your advice and analysis. I haven't surfed in SAFE mode and only used it while working with you to download designated programs for testing or logging into malwareremoval.com for posts in the cases when I wasn't able to make my computer run long enough to accomplish the requested tasks. I'll work on the formating and reinstall Vista. Best regards.

Reformatting and reinstalling your Vista operating system is a good choice. It will allow you to start over with a clean slate.