When I try to use a link, either in a site through my Mozilla Firefox 3 browser or through my Mozilla Thunderbird Email, the link "freezes". In order to complete the complete the link, I must first cancel my initial effort and then re-try. On the second effort the link promptly opens.

This doesn't happen all the time, but does ALMOST all the time.

Here is a description  of my computer:

Computer Profile Summary
Computer Name:    Jim-pc (in WORKGROUP)
Profile Date:    Sunday, December 06, 2009 11:15:28 PM

Operating System:   Windows Vista Home Premium Service Pack 2 (build 6002)
Install Language: English (United States)
System Locale: English (United States)         HP-Pavilion FK555AAR-ABA a6603w
System Serial Number: 3CW8420F0S
Chassis Serial Number: DM0001
Enclosure Type: Desktop
Processor: 2.40 gigahertz Intel Pentium Dual 64 kilobyte PRIMARY memory cache 1024 kilobyte secondary memory cache 64-bit ready
Multi-core (2 total)
Not hyper-threaded         Board: FOXCONN Napa HP P/N
Serial Number: ULSL84007544
Bus Clock: 200 megahertz
BIOS: Phoenix TECHNOLOGIES, LTD 5.21 12/02/2008
Drives         Memory Modules C,d
400.09 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
259.50 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

HP DVD Writer 1170d ATA Device [CD-ROM drive]

Generic- Compact Flash USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 2
Generic- MS/MS-Pro USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 5
Generic- SD/MMC USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 4
Generic- SM/xD-Picture USB Device [Hard drive] -- drive 3
ST3320813AS [Hard drive] (320.07 GB) -- drive 0, s/n 6SZ0RL0K, rev HP21, SMART Status: Healthy
WD 800BB External USB Device [Hard drive] (80.02 GB) -- drive 1         2942 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory

Slot 'A0' has 2048 MB
Slot 'A2' has 1024 MB
     Local Drive Volumes
     
      
c: (NTFS on drive 0)    307.74 GB    219.88 GB free
d: (NTFS on drive 0)    12.33 GB    1.19 GB free
j: (NTFS on drive 1)    80.02 GB    38.43 GB free
     Network Drives
     None detected

l
Lexmark X1100 Series    on USB001
Microsoft XPS Document Writer    on XPSPort:
Controllers         Display
IDE Channel [Controller] (4x)
Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller (2x)         NVIDIA GeForce 7100 / NVIDIA nForce 630i [Display adapter]
Emprex LE22A3 [Monitor] (21.7"vis, s/n 75101488, December 2007)
Bus Adapters         Multimedia
Microsoft iSCSI Initiator
Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller
Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller         Realtek High Definition Audio
Virus Protection [Back to Top]         new Group Policies
Microsoft Security Essentials Version 2.0.6212.0
    Scan Engine Version 1.1.5302.0
    Virus Definitions Version 1.71.527.0
    Realtime File Scanning On        
Communications         Other Devices
PCIe Soft Data Fax Modem with SmartCP
Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
NVIDIA nForce 10/100 Mbps Ethernet
 primary     Auto IP Address:    192.168.1.2 / 24
   Gateway:    192.168.1.1
   Dhcp Server:    192.168.1.1
   Physical Address:    00:22:68:06:00:D5
Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
 
Networking Dns Server:    192.168.1.1
        VIA OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
HID UPS Battery
American Power Conversion USB UPS
Lexmark X1100 Series Printer/Scanner
Enhanced Multimedia PS/2 Keyboard
PS/2 Compatible Mouse
Generic USB Hub
USB Mass Storage Device (2x)
USB Printing Support
USB Root Hub (2x)
Generic volume shadow copy

I have identified no  "malware' through many searches and several programs.

Your help in eliminating this nuisance would be greatly appreciated.

Jim
 What kind of internet connection is this ? ?
How old is the keyboard ? ?

Do you have any issues in any text Programs when typing ? ?The Internet connection is DLS, provided by Surewest.

The keyboard came with the computer, and is about one year old.I've had no problem with typing text.Have you checked the machine for a malware?

I had previously checked for malware using several programs including Surewest's Internet Security Suite, which is provided by Kaspersky (highly rated). I have also used ESET's online scanner, Immunet protection, ThreatFire, WinPatrol Plus and Malwarebytes' on occasion.

A full scan today by Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware yielded the following:

12/7/2009 9:16:43 PM
mbam-log-2009-12-07 (21-16-43).txt

Scan type: Full Scan (C:\|J:\|)
Objects scanned: 610051
Time elapsed: 11 hour(s), 28 minute(s), 45 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
FOLDERS Infected: 5
Files Infected: 11

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
C:\Program Files\AlphaAnt (Rogue.AlphaAV) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\AlphaAnt (Rogue.AlphaAV) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AlphaAntUninstall (Rogue.AlphaAV) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Users\Jim\AppData\Roaming\PC\faq (Rogue.ControlCenter) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Users\Jim\AppData\Roaming\PC\faq\images (Rogue.ControlCenter) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Files Infected:
C:\Users\Jim\AppData\Roaming\PC\faq\guide.html (Rogue.ControlCenter) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Users\Jim\AppData\Roaming\PC\faq\images\gimg1.jpg (Rogue.ControlCenter) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Users\Jim\AppData\Roaming\PC\faq\images\gimg10.jpg (Rogue.ControlCenter) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Users\Jim\AppData\Roaming\PC\faq\images\gimg2.jpg (Rogue.ControlCenter) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Users\Jim\AppData\Roaming\PC\faq\images\gimg3.jpg (Rogue.ControlCenter) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Users\Jim\AppData\Roaming\PC\faq\images\gimg4.jpg (Rogue.ControlCenter) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Users\Jim\AppData\Roaming\PC\faq\images\gimg5.jpg (Rogue.ControlCenter) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Users\Jim\AppData\Roaming\PC\faq\images\gimg6.jpg (Rogue.ControlCenter) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Users\Jim\AppData\Roaming\PC\faq\images\gimg7.jpg (Rogue.ControlCenter) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Users\Jim\AppData\Roaming\PC\faq\images\gimg8.jpg (Rogue.ControlCenter) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Users\Jim\AppData\Roaming\PC\faq\images\gimg9.jpg (Rogue.ControlCenter) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Whether this cured the double link problem remains to be seen.