Cannot open Windows folders on Desktop

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

I'm using Windows XP Home and had no trouble until the past week. I cannot
open Windows folders (My Documents, My Computer, etc.) from the Start Menu,
the Desktop icons or the task bar. When double clicked, or right clicked and
then clicking on "Open" results in a brief disappearance of all desktop icons
and then their reapperance without an error message. The folders can be
opened by right clicking and going to "explore" instead of "open". Once into
the Windows Explorer tree, all works fine. I can open non-Windows programs
from the Desktop in the usual way.

Windows Restore did not help.