About a week ago my computer started to freeze when ever I tried to use anything that involved windows explorer. So I can run Firefox or a game but as soon as I try to use something for windows like My Documents or the Start button it will just freeze and become inactive. When this happens I can still alt-tab and use Firefox or any program that was running before (they have no apparent slow downs) I attempted to use My documents. The only way to get out of it is to ctrl+alt+delete and log off and then on. I've run two full disk checks but those did nothing. I don't have the XP CD's so I can't reformat. Any tips would be appreciated.

Before trying anything that can completely stop your comp, make sure you have all your important doc's, emails & address book backed up. Next do a search on your drive & tell me if you have i386 on it, it will be about 500 mb in size.

Is there any other way to search windows other then start then search? My computer locks windows explorer down after I click search and wait for it to pop up.

Have you tried Safe Mode?

Actually I haven't. I will now though.

I searched for i386 in safe mode and found a folder on my back up drive (D) that had that name. It did not contain a file named i386 and the folder itself was less then 3mb in size.

"It did not contain a file named i386 and the folder itself was less then 3mb in size" Not it, the 500mb i386 folder is your XP operating system, if you had it, you could burn it on a CD & also put it on your "C" drive. http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=... xp i386 C drive http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=... Copy the I386 source folder to your HD and change the source path http://www.petri.co.il/customize_a_...