Explorer, IE, Control panel wont open

[Bobsk8]

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.....

[wxyz999a]

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

[wxyz999a]

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

[digitalocksmith]

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.