Windows Explorer slow to open files and "my computer"

[Bob]

Whenever I try to view files with windows explorer, it is extremely slow
(greater than five minutes) to open up and display the contents of the C:
drive or "my computer." This is happening with applications as well when they
do a search.

If I open Word, I can open quickly a document in the default location but
once I try to go to a different folder it takes five minutes to find the next
drive or folder. Oddly other application don't stop working. It is only when
it is looking up a directory.

Similarly, if I try to find imaging devices in the control panel it takes
about five minutes to find the scanner. I don't know if this is related as
other components of the control panel works well.

Any ideas? I did a system restore and repair installation and that did not
help.

 

[news.microsoft.com]

I would highly recommend checking to see who the manufacturer is of your
hard
drive and downloading and installing the diagnostic software for it. Sounds
like
you are fighting a near dead HDD.