First of all I have Windows XP Media Center Edition Service Pack 2 install on a fairly new compaq presario.

Recently when looking into my computer (browsing/searching files) I can only look for a few seconds before the screen except for background disappears and then refreshes with the folder closed. I assume this is explorer.exe crashing. I attached a 'printscreen' picture of the processes I am currently running. I have used bitdefender online webscan as well as Kaspersky 2009 suite. I also used Search & Destroy. Even with none of these programs running it still happens. I will try ending tasks on all that I can and see what happens.

I can actually just double click my computer to view the drives and wait about 10 to 15 seconds and it without me doing anything at all it just closes. Sometimes it goes blank completely and I have to Control.Alt.Delete and add explorer process again. Sigh..

It sounds like you have a virus try to add a new user account and then log out and restart and log in to the new account and see if this problem persists and you can also restart and as the computer comes on press f8 rappidly until you get a screen that lets you log in to safe mode and log in to see if the problem is still there if not you most likely have a virus and/or malware and spyware

I just tried safe mode an, of course, it went smoothly. Hmm.. I ended all tasks but still the same thing. Virus you think? I'll will try a couple of virus scanners Kapersky 2009 and bit defender online version. Any more links or advice is welcomed. Thanks.

Try creating a new user as I said before to test if the fully loaded xp has problems more processes and services are loaded than that of the safe mode account let me know what happens

I just did and the new user had the same problems. I'm dling bitdefender 2008 and will try that... as the online search did find viruses but was unable to delete them. I tried to login startup mode and find the files and delete but they weren't there? I'll try scanning the machine and get back to you. Thank you so much for your time and help as it is greatly appreciated.

Edit: Bitdefender found nothing yet the website shows infected..

Still no luck... Help I don't know what else to do.

Have you tried system restore or system recovery from the xp disc ?