When I try to search for a file in windows explorer, the window stops
responding after I have typed the first letter of the search name.

When I attempt to delete a file a window appears saying "Calculating time
remaining" this just hangs; attempting to close the message window causes a
message "cancelling" to occur in the message window but it continues to hang.
The explorer window becomes unresponsive.  

When I attempt to rename a file I get a similar problem.

For each of the three problems I need to go to Windows Task Manager to close
the unresponsive explorer window.

I have been running Vista Home Premium for about 2 months but this problem
only appeared a couple of days ago.  I have attempted to solve it using
system restores going back as far as it will allow me - but no joy.

Any ideas, anybody?