Random Freezing on Firefox web browser

In advance, thank you for any assistance.

My computer is less than a year old, randomly, the computer will completely freeze while using Firefox.  It is a full lock up and the only way I can get around it is to shut it off then turn it back on.  The power button will shut the system off fine, I do not have to just unplug it.  I wish I could say what type of sites it normally freezes with to problem solve, but it seems to be most all of them and at completely random times.  One day I can visit a site fine, the next it will lock up my system. I do not recall this issue happening the first two months I had the system and really haven't made any changes besides installing some software (office and some games). 

Although it is random certain sites are always always a problem, these are ones where I have to log into to pay bills or check email (best buy credit cards, yahoo ect...)

Other sites suggest Vista is the problem and the best way around it is to A) format and start from scratch, vista may work fine B)Most often switch to Win7 or XP, C) Stop using Firefox, D) Or try everything under the sun to try and stop it, as though it may be an application error.

I have tried running it as an administrator, installing then reinstalling, updating all my drivers, redownloading adobe and shockwave plug ins to make sure they are up to date.  Nothing seems to work; right now I am on internet explorer to make sure it doesn't lock up on me. Beyond that I uninstalled all software I don't use and might be suspicious then ran cleaner programs to make sure they are wiped clean from the system.. or as much as they really can be cleaned out.

The easy solution is to just not Firefox but the problem is unacceptable.  If something is wrong I want to fix it and use preferred programs as should be allowed.

My specs are in my signature, thanks.