IMPORTANT - when ever you make substantial changes to the settings on your computer, it's a good idea to write them down. You may want to change it back the following week or month. Write it in detail. (Page & Verse)

I am posting this as a TOPIC. I started it as a comment with respect to the Adobe Flash Post. My commet / response though covers  overall a lot of different methodson how to check your computer for problems. In the previous topic, there were 4 replies and a 158 views and it is unlikely a lot of member's will return to the topic. I think it will be far more beneficial to post as a new topic.

I provide a lot of information below. Many will know some of it, but I'm not sure how many will be aware of all of it.
I will tell you how to examine most of your computer for problems.

I tend to agree with the comment below that was left on the link - Six Months without Adobe.
I don't think the problem was Adobe Flash. While Adobe Flash has had its moments it is still used by millions of Game players without real problems.
See my comments below.
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This is part of the Comment left on the Linked Website.
***from the (Flash Topic) Post
I have never found flash the reason for browser crashes. I think it is more likely your drivers, OS or hardware. It would be great if you shared OS and hardware info. I would almost guess that your issues lies in your video card or video drivers. (Cyborg - possibility? But there are many other sources for conflict)

For example I get screen tearing in the latest version of Ubuntu linux with flash videos. This is not flashes fault, this is due to my video card being too new and the drivers are too young on Linux. Due to this I switched back to Windows 7 where it doesn't happen.
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Cyborg Comments>

I WILL PROVIDE A SERIES OF WAYS TO CHECK YOUR COMPUTER

In June of 2012 Firefox released a notice that if you were using Flash 11.3 it might result in crashes. They suggested deleting A-Flash and downloading ver 11.2 or 10.5. That was then.
Now Adobe is at Version 11.7.
Here are a few things to do.

Check your Flash version.
Go to Control Panel - and CLICK Programs and Features the Uninstall Program.

If Versions of Software are not displayed >

To see the Versions of your Installed Programs
In the menu bar CLICK on Views - then DETAILS.
A window opens.
Scroll down and find "VERSION"
Check Mark it.
Click OK

Then look at your menu bar - it should now show - Name - Version. ( I also have checkmarked these labels  >>> Publisher, Installed ON and Size -  which all display as columns. It is handy to know who published certain programs and when you installed it.

The CURRENT Flash player is Version ----------------11.7.700.169

You should set Adobe, Windows, Java and any other program to have the option to, to automatically update

I don't use ADOBE READER - I use "FREE" FOXIT Reader. It's a much better program.

NOW >>
As I said I would be quicker to think you had a conflict.
Sometimes Super Cookies (fancy tracking cookie) can cause a problem, which I will address a few paragraphs below.
We will take a look at various Computer Panel Icons to see if there are any obvious deficiencies.

First Go to Control Panel
Click on Administrative

CLICK on EVENT Viewer
Look at everything in there using the down arrows on right
If you find something - write it down

Click Back Arrow

Look at Reliability and Performance

Then go to DEVICE MANAGER Icon
Look to see if any icons are yellow

If so open and find out what the problem is. Perhaps a driver needs to be updated.
Near the bottom of the list look to see if an icon shows that says something about Problem Device.

Then go to PERFORMANCE INFO
     Go to bottom of list and click ADVANCED TOOL

Look at what is indicated on each line - if no problems go to bottom of list and
CLICK - Generate a Health Report

In Control Panel CLICK on PROBLEM REPORTS

Lastly - Click on WINDOW UPDATE - Download any necessary updates
Microsoft issues Updates every Tuesday unless there is a Critical update then it's issued instantly
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Addressing Adobe Flash Player >
If the below Link doesn't work - Search key words - Adobe Flash Manager

http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/settings_manager07.html
That Brings up the Flash Manager
When your online and see the """Website Storage Settings Panel" >> That is NOT a picture - it is the actual Manager.
There are Eight Icons on the top and clicking on each one brings up a different dialogue.

What Videos do is place "SUPER COOKIES" on your computer. They are Super Tracking Cookies. If you delete cookies in your Browser Tools Cookies options the super cookie creates a new one.
In the list is the super cookies and the amount of space they grab.

READ IN THE LEFT MARGIN about the Flash manager. Each Icon has a detailed explanation. 
Pay Particular attention to the Peer Sharing. It's Not advisable to disable it. It requires careful reading if you make changes.

You can also access part of this manager when you have a flash video up. Right Click on the Video then  - Global Settings -
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Finally = Go on the Internet - Enter Belarc in the Search box

Download a Report

It will tell you in detail all of your hardware including product keys. type of hard drive, Identification of your graphics card, etc: etc:

It will also tell you if everything is up todate. Look for any yellow icons.
This is very valuable information to have about your computer.
You can copy the report with your mouse and paste it into your Word Processor or Word Pad.
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Another Option is to Download the FREE program CCleaner

This program allows you to easily remove  information your computer stores automatically. Just be careful to double Check what you erase / remove.

When you first start the program it will ask you if you want to do an brainy scan for cookies. It keeps useful cookies like Log in cookies for "major" sites.

You willl see lists of programs but for this purpose you only want to deal with browsers.

Installed Web Browsers will be listed under the Windows Applications Tab.

For each browser Choose the Temporary Internet Files - OR - Internet Cache option. Choose Cookies option for each browser - CLICK -------- ANALYZE

You will see how much information each Browser is storing.
Then CLICK - RUN CLEANER
That will remove browser cookies AND Temporary Internet Data. That should get rid of all the "SUper Cookies" backup information.

Kim Komand the Radio - Internet Computer Guru has information about CCleaner. It's the only program I have ever seen her endorse to allow it to clean your registry.   
http://www.komando.com/downloads/category.aspx?id=1767

CCleaner has a setting to clean your registry. It does a gentle cleaning.
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Lastly Microsoft has a Suite of Utilities called SysInternals. Many of them are for more advanced users. However they have several that advanced beginners and intermediate users will find useful.

They are Process Explorer & Process Monitor.
If - when you download Process Explorer set it to show CPU % use.

You will easily be able to see what your CPU is being used for. In the help is a comprehensive Tutorial Guide.
Don't Kill programs on a Lark. Understand what you do - Before you do it.

You can set Process Explorer to replace "Task Manager"
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb545027.aspx

Process Explorer
v15.3 (February 5, 2013)
Find out what files, registry keys and other objects processes have open, which DLLs they have loaded, and more. This uniquely powerful utility will even show you who owns each process.

Process Monitor
v3.04 (March 27, 2013)
Monitor file system, Registry, process, thread and DLL activity in real-time.
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And then there is some final info about DRIVERS.
I'm speaking of drivers for your graphics card.
In doing the above checking you may not get a report that your drivers are out of date.

That does not mean there are not newer drivers.
I say that because I went online to the Graphics card mFG and found I was able to download slightly better drivers for my card. .
In essence even though you don't get a deficient driver display doesn't mean you can't go to the Card Mfg and see if they have updates available.
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Most people don't realize it but you get Cookies placed on your Computer from "BOTH" your Browser and Your E-mail program.

You can set your e-mail program and Browser to ask you for permission to place a cookie.

You will have three options. Allow, Allow for Session Only and Deny.

In the Browser - Firefox >>>
GO TO >> Tools - Options - Privacy

Under History
Firefox Will - (Dialogue box Set as) >>  Use Custom Setting for history

CK Accept cookies from sites -------- (Click on Box)  Exceptions
That will show ONE SET of current cookies and their Status Blocked Allowed

CK Accept 3rd party cookies

Keep Until -(Dialogue Box set as) >  Ask me every time - OR I close Firefox

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ThunderBird

Go To > Tools - Options - Security

CK Accept Cookies from Sites
Keep Until - (Dialogue Box set as ) ask me every time Or Close Thunderbird

Once you do that you will get a popup that asks if you are going to Allow the Cookie, Allow for Session only OR Block.

When You first start out you will get a lot of popups but theydecease as you build your blocked sites.
You can also manually put / Add  websites to the blocked Cookie list.


REMEMBER IT IS ALWAY A GOOD IDEA TO WRITE DOWN DATE & THE DETAILS OF ANY CHANGES YOU MAKE

Nah, it's Flash.  I've been on enough teams in the past where we spent countless hours tracking down Flash memory leaks and such.  It's crap, and nowadays, there is no reason to not let the browsers handle animation.

Regarding your computer check, I'd advise against that.