i can't open any folders, control panel, my computer, etc...i can't open any folders at all or directorys, and when i double-click a folder it doesn't do anything and the explorer process shoots up to 100% and lags, i can't figure out what's wrong. i tried using spybot and ad-aware and it didn't fix it anyone? please, i need help!

I think the Explorer files are corrupt. Get latest copy of Internet explorer from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.asp Internet explorer and the file explorer are the same.

I had it too. It's a spyware program. Use hijackthis.zip (search google.com for it) to find the errant BHO entry. Is may be roings or a CWS variant. If you have a question about what to remove please post. Regards, BZ

After about month of fighting this problem, I finally fixed it. When my firewall was down I was besieged by all manner of worms trojans and adware. Not only did I lose the ability to open folders (except through the search engine) but I could not establish an internet connection, could not detect my modem and lost the use of several programs. I would try to open “My Computer” but the window showed there were four objects but no icons appeared. It would then refuse to close. At the same time the cpu would peak at 100%. Well, I finally got online and downloaded all upgrades, patches, and did online scans. Still no folders though. The thing that saved me was Hijack This. I had used it earlier but was afraid to mess with the registry items. A month later I came back to it but this time with the attitude that I had nothing to lose. There were two BHO (browser helper objects) that were linked to toolbars and another file with apparently random letters. I deleted these (checked the boxes and said OK to fix or delete) rebooted and that was it. Folders reappeared. Apparently this registry key changes the name of the main file on each reboot so that it cannot be detected by antivirus programs. It apparently enters the system as something called wat.dll but changes its name on the next reboot. I still have a few bugs but now at least I can move around the computer and the CPU is having an easier life