Clicking shortcuts produces nothing; why?

[ukb008]

Hi

My computer's shortcuts sometimes cease to function, i.e., double-clicking the shortcuts on the desktop, or in the start menu, or clicking a video file - produces nothing. Even [CTRL][ALT][DEL] does not bring out the Windows Task Manager.

In such a case, I have to restart the machine and everything becomes fine again.

My computer is always on the net.

Can you please tell why and what I should do short of restarting?

Here's my system info:


Computer:
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Professional
OS Service Pack: Service Pack 2
Mozilla Firefox: v 2.0.0.3
Motherboard:
CPU Type: Intel Pentium 4A, 2679 MHz (5 x 536)
Motherboard Name: Gigabyte GA-8I845GV(-C) (3 PCI, 2 DIMM, Audio, Video, LAN)
Motherboard Chipset: Intel Brookdale-G i845GV
System Memory: 503 MB (DDR SDRAM)
BIOS Type: Award Modular (12/01/03)
Communication Port: COM1 & COM2
Communication Port: Printer Port (LPT1)

Display:
Video Adapter: Intel(R) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller (64 MB)
3D Accelerator: Intel Extreme Graphics
Monitor: Samsung SyncMaster 753DF

Multimedia:
Audio Adapter: Intel 82801DB(M) ICH4(-M) - AC'97 Audio Controller

Storage:
[B]Floppy Drive: SONY Floppy disk drive
Disk Drive 1: SEAGATE 80 GB, 7200 RPM, Ultra-ATA/100
Disk Drive 2: SEAGATE 80 GB, 7200 RPM, Ultra-ATA/100
Optical Drive 1: ASUS CB-5216A DVD-ROM+CD-Writer
Optical Drive 2: SONY DVD RW DW-Q120A

Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 20002 MB (6431 MB free)
D: (NTFS) 20002 MB (6622 MB free)
E: (NTFS) 20002 MB (8034 MB free)
F: (NTFS) 16308 MB (7724 MB free)
G: (NTFS) 28615 MB (13547 MB free)
I: (NTFS) 47692 MB (32655 MB free)

Network:
Network Adapter: Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethernet NIC
Network Adapter: WAN (PPP/SLIP) Interface

Peripherals:
Printer: hp deskjet 3500 series


Regards.

[jeffy]

I have seen this used successfully:
in Task Manager, tab Processes, kill explorer.exe.
Then select File -> New Task, type explorer.exe and it should be okay.

If the machine is overclocked, it might be due to instability.

EDIT:
Check also your hard drives. Have you ever seen a prolonged, still HDD LED light?
http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.jsp?locale=en-US&name=SeaTools&vgnextoid=720bd20cacdec010VgnVCM100000dd04090aRCRD
/EDIT

EDIT2:
If you are willing to test your RAM, give MemTest a chance:
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=971496#post971496
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=962040#post962040
/EDIT2

[ukb008]

Thanks, jeffy. I'll post back if I'm still swimming around in the soup.

Regards.