Sporadic "windows explorer not responding" error

[Prozac1964]

Hey everyone, I'm having a weird problem with Windows XP Home Edition 32 bit operating system. I keep getting the: "windows explorer not responding" error, but only on 2 applications.

One is when I open my dedicated downloads file.

Two is when I try to play Fallout 3.

This is crazy to me, and I'm trying to fix it but since these two instances are so random, I don't know where to start. Mainly because I don't know much about the error to begin with. It started about a month ago. Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[Auraka]

Only time I've had explorer access errors my WD was becoming flaky and eventually died. Could be those access points are located at damaged sectors.

 

[Prozac1964]

Eeeeek. Hope not, but thanks for your reply.