In Design freezes when I click on "place" an item.

[jodyj40]

In design freezes when I click on" place" or   " save as". I can use the type tool with no problem.

[Derek Cross]

Which version of InDesign and OS?

Try trashing your InDesign preferences:

Close and relaunch InDesign, and IMMEDIATELY hold down Ctrl + Alt + Shift (Windows) or Cmd + Ctrl + Opt + Shift (Mac), and respond in the affirmative to the dialog asking if you really want to replace the preferences. You must be extremely fast on the keyboard (if you don’t see the confirmation prompt, you were too slow).

You may need to do this a couple of times before getting the hang of it!