Menu issues..

Hi, I have an HP laptop with a Geforce 8400 (256mb). Now, it can run most games that I want to play (Left4Dead, Red Alert 3, etc) on medium or low graphical settings with no problems. But something I've noticed is happening recently is that the menues in some games take FOREVER to load.

So, for example, in the new Prince of Persia I experience no gameplay issues at all, but when I open the world map (tab) or the game menu (esc) it takes up to 5 minutes for the menu to open. This also happens with Red Alert 3 (sometimes), Battlefield 2, Battlefield Special Forces, Overlord, The Movies, Battlefield Heroes (especially annoying), and GTA4. Keep in mind that I can play all of these games with no frame rate issues (Except GTAIV). With some games, notably GTA: San Andreas and GTA: Vice City, the menues will freeze or crash the game entirely.

But while I can't open those games menues without the lag, I can open the menues in Medieval II, Oblivion, Fallout 1, 2, 3, and others. I couldn't find any help on Google. Sorry if I posted in the wrong forum, but the support forums seemed more from Gamespot.com related trouble.

I'd appreciate any help you can give me :)

My system specs are:

Windows Vista 32bit (SP1)
AMD Turion 64 Mobile Processor 2.1GHz
3.0GB of RAM
220GB Hard Drive - 31GB Free
Processes that are running (besides WinVista defaults):
AVG Antivirus
WhatPulse
uTorrent
Lightscribe Control Panel
Rockstar Social Club (sometimes)

How long has this be going on? Was anything installed or changed about that time? Does the computer make any odd noises when you try to access those menu's?

If you're not sure or can't remember there are a few things you can do.

• Download and install any available driver updates.
• Run scandisk on your hard drive and defrag it.
• Check and vents on your laptop and clean as needed. It may be a heat related problem.
• Get a hold of a can of compressed air and blow out the internals of your computer. Make sure the computer is off first.

I've updated my drivers, run every cleaning scan from AVG to Registry Mechanic and it still happens.

It's been this way after my first reformat of the drive (I've done 3 so far) so about 8 months.