Vista - Unable to Download anything

I am new to this forum, but decided to join as I saw that the answers to the questions made sense.

I have been having this problem with my computer since August. I can no longer download anything and I do mean anything. It started after a windows update.

I have been searching the web for months and begging my techie friends for help. Nothing I have tried has worked.

This is what I have done so far. I have spent 3 hours on the phone with the people at Microsoft until they finally gave up and "accidentally hung up". I could never get anyone back without paying for the help. I then followed a Vista thread that told me to remove my Norton Antivirus. I did this completely purging it from my system. I have stopped the windows defender. I have made sure all of my core files are still running. I have uninstalled every update from July to September. I have rebooted. I have compressed and defragged. Also now my screen is locking up periodically when I am on the web.

I do not know what else to do. I would love for someone to have a answer. Please do not suggest that I download anything as I can not. It says that it downloads, but it is nowhere on my computer.

Thanks in advance for any help offered.

I am unable to read private messages as it requires me to download and it just ain't happening.

Please explain reinstalling OS.