[Geekgirl]

Run the System File Checker

Go to the Run box on the Start Menu and type in:

sfc /scannow ( sfc if not reconized)

This command will immediately initiate the Windows File Protection service to scan all protected files and verify their integrity, replacing any files with which it finds a problem. You will need your Windows cd.

 

[Geekgirl]

Lets back up alittle, you say this is happening on both your desktop and your laptop. Have you installed a program on both of them right before this happened? Are you waiting for all the programs to load before attempting to open IE/Firefox? If your running Norton as your antivirus you will see that it takes it forever to load and if you try to open something before it is loaded you will see delay.

 

[Geekgirl]

Are you waiting until AVG loads and the icon shows in the taskbar?