Too many processes running on Windows 7. Help!?

Hi, I have an HP laptop about a year old and it recently started freezing up constantly. I figured out I had about 85 processes running and that was most likely the cause (Or so I hope.) I'm going through and trying to clear out all the programs I don't need. I came across a whole lot of programs that I don't know exactly what they do. I mainly use the computer for schoolwork, facebook, e-mail, photoshop, iTunes, watching DVDs, and things of that sort. I don't do much gaming on it. I'm not sure if this is too broad of a question, but what are the minimum processes that I should be running? I tried doing some research on all of the processes, but most of it didn't make much sense to me. Secondly, could it be the processes making it freeze up? It'll run for maybe 5 minutes, freeze, and then I have to power it down. If I take the battery out and leave it for a while it'll work for maybe a half hour and then freeze again. It runs on Safe Mode fine though. This is kind of two questions in one but could anyone help me? I'm desperate here. ANY help is appreciated. THANK YOU! (: