"My Computer" Icons Launch 'Windows Search' When Clicked

Hi

I'm using Windows XP with SP2 installed. For some reason recently when I click any of the drive icons in 'My Computer' it launches a new window with the default window's Search interface and the 'My Computer' screen remains - that is, it does not access the drive. If I right click the icon I've noticed 'search' is now the top option for all the drives (a drive, hdd's and cdroms) in my computers, but other items in "My Computer" such as 'my documents' still have 'open' as their top option and thus open normally when clicked. The only way to access my drives is type in "c:/" in the address bar or right click and select open or explore.

I've tried all the suggested virus programs in the sticky threads (I know they mostly refer to IE but anythings worth a shot and explorer and IE are linked to some extent), as well as all the suggestions, techniques and what have you as well as my own and few others ideas, but still no luck. I thought that perhaps the thread regarding "HijackThis" and the 'extra options in the right click menu' might do the trick but after that I still achieved nothing. Any suggestions? As far as I can see it hasn't been a common problem as hours of searching turned up nothing. Thanks very much in advanced!

I admit that the problem is not urgent but very frustrating for someone who regularly accesses different drives. Having shortcuts on the desktop returns the same results by the way so not even that is an option.

Black Magic