When clearing cache IE freezes

I have had this problem forever using certain hardware components. It is also
happening on 2 different computers which both have some of the same parts. I
would greatly appreciate any help anyone can offer.

My problem is that when I open internet properties and want to clear the
history or cache, IE will completely freeze every single time. I click delete
all files, offline etc. It freezes. I clear history, it freezes. By clicking
the X button to close IE and the internet preferences window, Explorer.exe
crashes/closes and the desktop will disappear and then reappear. This happens
every single time and on both computers.

My other issue is when trying to open local files, the same sort of thing
happens almost. Double clicking to open html files or wri, doc files etc wil
cause windows to hang while they try to open the application. So if I double
click a local file that is .html IE then will take up to 1 minute or so to
open, then another 30 seconds or so to actually load the html file or
whatever. The same happens for text files. I double click, Microsoft Office
word XP, 2003, etc, doesn't matter, even word pad or note pad, the same thing
will happen. Take up to a minute to open, then another 30 seconds or so to
actually load the file.

This happens on both pcs and every single time I do anything like this. I
have reinstalled windows and the same thing everytime happens as well. The pc
is as follows.

AMDX2 4200+
1gb corsair PC3200 ram XMS, Cas 2 in dual channel mode. 512mb x2
2 western digital raptor drives 10,000 rpm in raid 0. one pc has the 36gb
drives for a total of 70gb about and the other has 2 of the 74gb ones for
140gb total.
backup 160gb drive.
dvdrw dual layer and dvd combo drive
7800GT video card in one pc, older pc don't remember, 6800 GT i think it was.
floppy drive in both.
Asus A8N SLI deluxe motherboard for both pc.
windows xp pro sp2 both pc with all updates, no updates etc, doesn't matter.
does not matter what software is running or anything. happens on fresh
system install, if not the first day of using a fresh install, then very
shortly after. doesn't matter what apps have been installed or anything.

I also have a computer that does not have this issue. It has the following
parts.

Asus A8V deluxe motherboard
AMD64 3500+
1gb corsair same ram
6800GT video
Western digital raprot drives in raid 0 the 36gb ones.
160gb backup
floppy and dvd combo with dual layer burner as well

That pc don't have this problem. The weird thing is the only ones that have
the problem have the AMDX2 4200+ and the Asus A8N sli deluxe motherboard.

I've tried reinstalling windows with my manufacture system restore dvd that
came with one of the amdx2 computers. it was a winxp pro sp2 and so forth
restore dvd. the other pc was from OEM win xp pro sp2 disc I got with the pc.

I'm really desperate to resolve this asap.
Thanks guys,
Joe
.