im running a windows vista 64 bit system.  when i go to click any of my desktop icons, my computer lags really bad and i eventually have to turn it off manually.  when i open the same program or file from the start menu, it works fine for a few minutes then eventually ends up doing the same thing.  i really dont want to do a system restore if i could help it.  any ideas on what the problem might be?  ive run malwarebytes and adcleaner several times, but they dont seem to help.

Well, there's your problem. :D

First off, I'd try a cocktail of malware attackers. Spybot, Windows Defender, etc. Then I'd go find a virus scanner and run a thorough check.

At this point, it could be anything. Eliminate virus/malware options before doing anything else. Remember that some malware can't be stopped by Spybot and its ilk so you may have to go find a solution like rkill (though if it's that bad, you usually get so many popups that you know what the problem with the computer is).

Another thing to check is to make sure that you have all programs disabled upon startup. If you're dealing with too many variables, you'll never figure out the problem. Elminate your options one at a time.

too much naughty sites?

Open up your processes tab a few minutes after you reach the desktop. Is there anything there that shouldn't be?

Start disabling features like animated folders, transparent windows, etc.  Probably not it, but could help.

Wouldn't it be quicker to just run Task Manager and manually pick through the Processes? I've busted viruses that way before, even a tricky one that tried to stop me from running Task Manager

Sure, but you need to know what you're looking for... Any intelligent virus coder will name the process something that looks official and you'll never be able to tell it apart from a legitimate Windows process unless you have basic process names memorized or unless the virus is hogging most of your resources (something legitimate Windows processes also do when a computer is malfunctioning).

Having processes run on startup is a bad idea anyway unless you use the software EVERY TIME you boot your computer.

This is what I would do and do do to my family/friend's who have issues like this.

I always start in safe mode with networking.

Install/run:

Spybot Search and Destroy

AVG Free Anti-virus.

I do this multiple times too.

It always finds various things, even on the 2nd pass.

Once all that's done, the PC will be like a new machine or at least drastically different.

However, it may be far faster to simply reinstall only Windows (not restore). Just install Vista 64 by itself with the key you have on the PC. This wipes anything out, but you'll need to be in Safe Mode to back up your important stuff first.

I seriously don't get how people get so many nasty things on their computers. If that ever happened to me I would just format the PC :P