Hello,
I use windows XP pro.
Recently, I noticed that when I point the mouse on the ICON of some directory of the start menu program list, the directory seems to freeze a number of seconds, and then it opens. What is even more strange is that if I have already opened some directory of the start menu program list, then it opens quickly in susequent tries. What can it be?

thx.Please, post some computer info:
- processor type, amount of RAM (hold Windows logo key, hit Pause/Break key)
- hard drive size/free space (open "My Computer", right click on hard drive letter, click "Properties")OK.
Processor: AMD Sermpron +2800
Ram: 960MB, 1.61 GH
Disk C: used space 11.8 GB, free space: 3.88 GB
Disk D: used space 14.5 GB, free space: 38.9 GBBy pointing the mouse, do you mean actually clicking on any program listed in Start menu?
Do you have similar delays, when, opening, moving, copying, pasting things in Windows Explorer, or anywhere else?By "pointing the mouse", I mean only pointing the arrow on the directory icon, what normally make it DISPLAYED (I don't mean clicking on the icon, despite this doesn't work too, when the start menu freezes).
I haven't remarked such delays when opening windows explorer, but my computer seems to be globally slower than in the past.Download HijackThis:
http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/tools/security_tools/hijackthis/download
by clicking on Download HijackThis Installer
Install, and run it.
Post HijackTHis log.Here is the log:

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan SAVED at 23:52:27, on 12/02/2009
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16608)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
D:\Program Files\Computer control\Antivirus\Firewall\smc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
D:\Program Files\Computer control\Antivirus\Ad Aware\aawservice.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
D:\Program Files\Computer control\Antivirus\a-squared Free\a2service.exe
D:\PROGRA~2\COMPUT~1\ANTIVI~1\AVG\avgwdsvc.exe
D:\programming\Matlab-prog\webserver\bin\win32\matlabserver.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\Program Files\CyberLink\Shared Files\RichVideo.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
D:\PROGRA~2\COMPUT~1\ANTIVI~1\AVG\avgrsx.exe
D:\PROGRA~2\COMPUT~1\ANTIVI~1\AVG\avgemc.exe
D:\PROGRA~2\COMPUT~1\ANTIVI~1\AVG\avgnsx.exe
D:\Program Files\Computer control\Antivirus\AVG\avgcsrvx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wscntfy.exe
D:\Program Files\Various\Task plus\TaskPlus\taskplus0.exe
D:\Program Files\Printer\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd.exe
C:\Program Files\HP\hpcoretech\hpcmpmgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\jusched.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\RUNDLL32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SOUNDMAN.EXE
D:\PROGRA~2\COMPUT~1\ANTIVI~1\AVG\avgtray.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\Lib\NMBgMonitor.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe
D:\Program Files\Computer Cleanning\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
D:\Program Files\Computer control\Eraser\eraser.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\Lib\NMIndexStoreSvr.exe
D:\Program Files\Printer\Digital Imaging\bin\hpqtra08.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\Lib\NMIndexingService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\HPZipm12.exe
D:\Program Files\Internet Tools\Firefox\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
D:\Program Files\Computer control\Hijack this\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = file:///D:/internet/Internet%20home/internet-home.htm
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = file:///D:/internet/Internet%20home/internet-home.htm
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Connection Wizard,ShellNext = http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Skype add-on (mastermind) - {22BF413B-C6D2-4d91-82A9-A0F997BA588C} - C:\Program Files\Skype\Toolbars\Internet Explorer\SkypeIEPlugin.dll
O2 - BHO: WormRadar.com IESiteBlocker.NavFilter - {3CA2F312-6F6E-4B53-A66E-4E65E497C8C0} - D:\Program Files\Computer control\Antivirus\AVG\avgssie.dll
O2 - BHO: Spybot-S&D IE Protection - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - D:\PROGRA~2\COMPUT~2\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: AVG Security Toolbar - {A057A204-BACC-4D26-9990-79A187E2698E} - D:\PROGRA~2\COMPUT~1\ANTIVI~1\AVG\AVGTOO~1.DLL
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar2.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Notifier BHO - {AF69DE43-7D58-4638-B6FA-CE66B5AD205D} - C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\3.1.807.1746\swg.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar2.dll
O3 - Toolbar: AVG Security Toolbar - {A057A204-BACC-4D26-9990-79A187E2698E} - D:\PROGRA~2\COMPUT~1\ANTIVI~1\AVG\AVGTOO~1.DLL
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroFilterCheck] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\Lib\NeroCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TaskPlus] D:\Program Files\Various\Task plus\TaskPlus\taskplus0.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Software Update] "D:\Program Files\Printer\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Component Manager] "C:\Program Files\HP\hpcoretech\hpcmpmgr.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SoundMan] SOUNDMAN.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG8_TRAY] D:\PROGRA~2\COMPUT~1\ANTIVI~1\AVG\avgtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [BgMonitor_{79662E04-7C6C-4d9f-84C7-88D8A56B10AA}] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\Lib\NMBgMonitor.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [swg] C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SpybotSD TeaTimer] D:\Program Files\Computer Cleanning\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Eraser] D:\Program Files\Computer control\Eraser\eraser.exe -hide
O4 - Startup: Moonphase 2.0.lnk = D:\Program Files\Games and Fun\Astronomy\Moon Phases\Moonphase2.exe
O4 - Global Startup: HP Digital Imaging Monitor.lnk = D:\Program Files\Printer\Digital Imaging\bin\hpqtra08.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~1\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_05\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Skype - {77BF5300-1474-4EC7-9980-D32B190E9B07} - C:\Program Files\Skype\Toolbars\Internet Explorer\SkypeIEPlugin.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~1\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2} - D:\PROGRA~2\COMPUT~2\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Spybot - Search & Destroy Configuration - {DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2} - D:\PROGRA~2\COMPUT~2\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {40A8CADD-1707-4556-B644-420AB075B737} - D:\Program Files\Computer control\Flash & Pics Control\fpc.exe (HKCU)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Flash && Pics Control - {40A8CADD-1707-4556-B644-420AB075B737} - D:\Program Files\Computer control\Flash & Pics Control\fpc.exe (HKCU)
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://www.update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1199871316046
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://www.update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/muweb_site.cab?1199877095593
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://fpdownload2.macromedia.com/get/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{72F78C1B-EB0F-446A-8C94-3107CAF03E64}: NameServer = 194.90.1.5 212.143.212.143
O18 - Protocol: linkscanner - {F274614C-63F8-47D5-A4D1-FBDDE494F8D1} - D:\Program Files\Computer control\Antivirus\AVG\avgpp.dll
O18 - Protocol: skype4com - {FFC8B962-9B40-4DFF-9458-1830C7DD7F5D} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\Skype\SKYPE4~1.DLL
O18 - Filter: application/xhtml+xml; charset=iso-8859-1 - {32F66A26-7614-11D4-BD11-00104BD3F987} - C:\Program Files\Design Science\MathPlayer\MathMLMimer.dll
O18 - Filter: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8 - {32F66A26-7614-11D4-BD11-00104BD3F987} - C:\Program Files\Design Science\MathPlayer\MathMLMimer.dll
O18 - Filter: text/xml; charset=iso-8859-1 - {32F66A26-7614-11D4-BD11-00104BD3F987} - C:\Program Files\Design Science\MathPlayer\MathMLMimer.dll
O18 - Filter: text/xml; charset=utf-8 - {32F66A26-7614-11D4-BD11-00104BD3F987} - C:\Program Files\Design Science\MathPlayer\MathMLMimer.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: avgrsstarter - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\avgrsstx.dll
O23 - Service: a-squared Free Service (a2free) - Emsi Software GmbH - D:\Program Files\Computer control\Antivirus\a-squared Free\a2service.exe
O23 - Service: Lavasoft Ad-Aware Service (aawservice) - Lavasoft - D:\Program Files\Computer control\Antivirus\Ad Aware\aawservice.exe
O23 - Service: AVG8 E-mail Scanner (avg8emc) - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - D:\PROGRA~2\COMPUT~1\ANTIVI~1\AVG\avgemc.exe
O23 - Service: AVG8 WatchDog (avg8wd) - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - D:\PROGRA~2\COMPUT~1\ANTIVI~1\AVG\avgwdsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Convar task manager (ctm) - Convar Deutschland GmbH - D:\Program Files\Computer control\task manager\ctm.exe
O23 - Service: Google Updater Service (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe
O23 - Service: MATLAB Server (matlabserver) - Unknown owner - D:\programming\Matlab-prog\webserver\bin\win32\matlabserver.exe
O23 - Service: NBService - Nero AG - C:\Program Files\Nero\Nero 7\Nero BackItUp\NBService.exe
O23 - Service: NMIndexingService - Nero AG - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Ahead\Lib\NMIndexingService.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: Pml Driver HPZ12 - HP - C:\WINDOWS\system32\HPZipm12.exe
O23 - Service: Cyberlink RichVideo Service(CRVS) (RichVideo) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\CyberLink\Shared Files\RichVideo.exe
O23 - Service: Sygate Personal Firewall (SmcService) - Sygate Technologies, Inc. - D:\Program Files\Computer control\Antivirus\Firewall\smc.exe

--
END of file - 10636 bytes
It looks clean.
See, if same thing happens in Safe Mode.

BTW...
You need to update Java:
http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp
JRE 6 Update 12
IMPORTANT! During installation, make sure, you opt out from installing Java Quick Starter (security issues)
Uninstall all previous versions of Java through Add\Remove ("Programs and Features" in Vista).