Problem with Windows Explorer

Every time while in Windows Explorer and I try to do a second operation like COPY and PASTE without closing the program after the first operation Windows warns me that it will close the program, the problem when it re-open the program I only see my major picture of Windows without any short cut with my programs on it. The only way I found out on how to get my PC in operation again is to press Ctrl-Alt and Delete, then the program Task Manager open I then go to Restart and press on it, then the Windows shut down and restart. I have tried many operation to cure this problem and no success so far. My PC is an IBM laptop, T-30 with Windows XP Pro with all the latest update, 1 Gb of memory and 40 Mb hard disk. Hope some one can help me with this problem. I also use Regcure one a week and XoftspySE daily.
Thanks for your help.

 

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying here. Do you mean that windows explorer crashes when you do an operation like copy/paste? And when it restarts, the taskbar and desktop icons are gone?

 

YES, As you mention, Windows closes Explorer, and only thing left is my main picture, with nothing else, no short cut. I then need to restart WINDOWS by going to task Manager as describeb before. And even then it took me a while to find out I could go to Task Manager and restart Windows. Thanks for your answer.