Windows Modules Installer crash - Need help - TYIA

On my home system running Vista Home Premium 32 bit I have been getting this
error randomly popping up on my screen saying that "Windows modules
installer" has stopped working. Also ever since this started happening I
have not been able to receive any windows updates or uninstall windows
updates from the system.

My computer also freezes randomly for up to 20 seconds. I recently just
bought a brand new 500gb HD and put the fresh copy of windows on the HD so i
have hardly anything loaded on it other than World of warcraft, ive run
scandisks, defrag, the usual tools. Please help! TYIA.

-Josh