I've had windows xp pro installed for nearly a month and installed SP2
last week. I have several pieces of software installed that load-up
the rt-click menu, itunes, Roxio easy-CD, winzip, winrar etc. I'm
wondering if either of the last two (my most recently installed
programs) could be causng a problem. I've searched for postings and
have found nothing specifically like this.

When I right click on one or more highlighted files, the hourglass
shows up for about ten seconds then explorer shuts down and even takes
away the windoes tray then restores it when it's sorted itself out.
This error also results in the ATI and Creative video and audio
control applets that normally show up in the lower right hand section
of the windows taskbar.

Any help much appreciated.

Try uninstalling the software you mentioned one at a time and see if
the functionality returns.

Also try a virus scan and spyware scan.

Try reinstalling XP, inser the disc and proceed with an installation
but choose Repair Installation.

have you installed a utility called "Power Toys"?

Hello, I've uninstalled all software installed in the last week.
Cleaned up the registry, have done a virus / spyware scan. Nada. It's
a puzzle. I've further investigated what's happening using 'system
events' and 'imapi' the CD-BURN process shuts down. So the scenario
goes - right-click (in the background imapi gets invoked, then six
seconds later enters a run-state then is immediately shut-down),
fourteen seconds later, windows explorer (not IE) shuts down, takes
the network adapter process, creative soundblaster control applet and
ATI control applet with it. The only programs installed since this all
worked properly are: quadnews (newsgroup reader prog), Winace and
Winzip. All three add options to the right-click menu, however,
uninstalling all of them and cleaning the registry hasn't helped.
Further comments?