Programs freeze and End Program not working

[Steve]

Hello,

I'm using Windows XP Home. Recently, a problem has come up that I can't
determine the cause. I can use my browser fine, and most programs work
Ok. But, my file programs such as Windows Explorer or Power Desk will
occasionally freeze when I'm arrowing down through a file list or try to
right click on a file. When that happens everything is frozen. When I
try to stop the program, the End Program box comes up but clicking on
it does nothing. Neither does crtrl-alt-del work. I have to do
a hard shut down and then reboot and all is well until I try to use
those program OR when I try to load different program-no particular
ones, they will occasionally freeze during the loading process and I'm
stuck again.

I've done several virus scans with no problems found. I've run
four different anti-spyware program and no problems were found.

I'm at a loss.

Suggestions please?

Thanks,

Steve

 

[Guest]

see if "indexing" is causing the problem....

 

[Guest]

also, i think i recall reading somewhere that a slow or unresponsive explorer
might be due WIA. Don't remember which of the mvp sites i read this, but i
recall that it was a possible cause and not the exact solution.

You could go to services.msc via run and temporarily disable WIA and see if
this helps too.....

 

[Steve]

also, i think i recall reading somewhere that a slow or unresponsive explorer
might be due WIA. Don't remember which of the mvp sites i read this, but i
recall that it was a possible cause and not the exact solution.

You could go to services.msc via run and temporarily disable WIA and see if
this helps too.....

Thanks for the replies. I disabled both, and I'll see what happens.

Steve