System Hangs when deleting files

While im trying to delete unused folders/zips/docs/ect my system hangs up considerably. But when browsing through the folders it surfs through them with ease. The comp only hangs when choosing to delete anything even things <10kb.

Ive ran drivecleanup, spyware, used uninstall program, and anything else i can think of. While the files are being deleted ive watched the CPU usage, and it migrates from 0%-4% usuage. Ive closed all background apps and tasks in task manager also. So i know the cpu isnt loaded.

Its a p4 2.4ghz. Any ideas?

 

update:
Now computer explorer hangs when browsing.

 

I'm here watching..can't answer the question, but I'm now having an unrelated, but maybe similar problem. I recently did my updates, to WMP 11 IE 7 and other recent security issues, I deleted my windows defender, and I changed over from microsoft Java to the latest Sun Java.
Now, after using my IE for browsing, searching , etc. I try to delete my temp files, and History. The temp internet files deletion works normally, but after I click the delete History tab on the internet tools box the delete function just keeps running and running. I have to go to task manager and prompt the taskman to end the deletion process. If I re-boot the PC and start from scratch the delete History function always works. Something is fishy.

 

See, i dont have nearly that. Ill browse the folders left over from add/remove programs. The remaining items in the folder are now useless to me (such as EA Link/FilePlant/B.S.). So, ill select those 3 folders and click delete. 5 minutes later I get the prompt 'Are you sure you want to delete these 3 items'. I click yes, and then about 10 min later the folders are gone (folders are only ~20kb together).

Could this mean a HDD failure?