I have a friend who has XP Home edition and they cannot access "My Computer" or Search for files. Clicking on "My Computer" brings up the hourglass for a few seconds and then nothing. If I try to search by pressing start/search the same thing happens and the start button stays pressed in. The CPU does not show an increased load and the computer seems to lockup. I can run other programs fine. Any ideas? Thanks

One thing to look at-- Long delay before files appear in My Computer in Windows XP http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;819017

Don't think that's it because I currently don't have any USBs plugged in. I will check for WIA service though tonight. Thanks

You could try this for troubleshooting-- How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows XP To find out what each Startup(or Process) item does or means, and any recommendation as to if you should close the process: Task List Programs

Have you tried to access it through Run explorer.exe Ok See if it will showup this way. Also what are the properties of you MY Computer, does it point to it? The program should reside in the C:Window\explorer.exe folder. Look to see if it there and try clicking on it see what happens. Never say Never Romeo Void Firefox 1.5.0.4 A Safer Browser Thunderbird 1.5.0.4

If I close explorer the desktop goes away. If I then type explorer in cmd, the desktop comes back. But, I cannot open "My Computer", Windows Explorer or Search functions. I have tried running explorer.exe \e,\root,c:\windows and it looks like it wants to start, the hourglass shows and then nothing. I tried shutting down everything in msconfig with no luck. Geeksquad said this is due to a lack of memory and the AOL antivirus but there is CPUs are not high when this happens and memory doesn't jump so I don't see it.