When I right click on a file folder, the computer freezes, i.e., I cannot perform any further function until I access Task Manager and click End Process. I have looked at the Tools, Folder Options entries and in File Folder, there is only one entry, the word "find". I believe it is registry related, but can't find the solution.

Try Safe mode.

Folder Options entries and in File Folder, there is only one entry, the word "find" I have the word 'Find' plus 3 other entries. Those are related to a program called Winamp. So you are OK with 'Find'. Most Virus and Spyware scans are likely to work better in Windows Safe-Mode.

Right-click is slow or weird behavior caused by context menu handlers. Try method #2 Using ShellExView to determine the Context-menu causing the problem http://windowsxp.mvps.org/slowright... "Don't hit at all if you can help it; don't hit a man if you can possibly avoid it; but if you do hit him, put him to sleep." Theodore Roosevelt New York City, February 17, 1899

I found that the culprit was WS_FTP and was created with the WS_FTP 12 update. Using ShellExView, I sorted the Context-menu list by date to see what software was loaded or updated about the time my right-click issued began. I disabled WS_FTP and sure enough, it had caused the problem. Good advice from dippncope!

@dippncope ShellExView did the trick. Right-click would cause a system lockup on all but TaskManager, and have to reboot. The culprit was the "Shell Extension for Malware scanning" from version 9.00.00.03 of Avira Antivirus. Disable it and all is good. Thanks!