You only need providers running that you actually use, the one not running is likely to be Outlook/Exchange. You don't need this unless you are using MS Outlook (not express). Others you may not need P2P and Instant Messaging, that leaves 4, Standard Shield, Network Shield, Internet Mail and Web Shield all of which I would consider essential.
The thing about the providers, if they aren't being used, even if enabled they don't have a large drain on resources, tiny in fact. So I doubt this is your problem.
Simply having "the reply i got back said DEVICE DRIVER ERROR" to work with isn't enough, there could be literally hundreds. If you have more information from the BSOD like the Stop error number and any other information that you should google and see what comes up. When/if you have this happen again document it, I've know people to take a picture of it so they can have a record.
So the short answer would be it could be if it were a driver avast uses, but there isn't enought information.
What is it doing slowly ?