This started all of a sudden with Windows XP home on a Dell 8400. When I try to open Windows explorer, Internet Explorer, Control Panel. the CPU usage goes to around 50% or more, and the programs never open. In the task panel, it shows they are running. If I boot up in Safe mode, I can run them OK. I have Trend PC Cillin and have run that, Ad-Aware, Spy Bot, and Registry Mechanic, with no improvement. I also tried system restore.

Would it be a windows problem, if these programs run OK in Safe Mode? How can I troubleshoot this. ( By the way , I am using Firefox on the same PC with no problem.....

press ctrl+alt+delete
Click applications then click the control panel or whatever and then click switch to.
sorry if this wasn't any help

press ctrl+alt+delete
Click applications then click the control panel or whatever and then click switch to.
sorry if this wasn't any help

Malware is often the cause of these sorts of issues.

Download a copy of HijackThis and save it to your desktop in a folder.
Do a scan and save the HijackThis logfile. Do not remove anything.
Post your log file here.
Link to HijackThis:

http://castlecops.com/zx/Merijn/hijackthis.zip

I will look at it later or another staff member will help to diagnose your log.