Network status window not appearing

Hello

i have a very strange problem. in network connections, i am not able to get the network status dialog box when i double click on active connections. it simply does not appear at all (its not even off screen) it will have a hourglass appearing for less than a quarter of a second as if it were going to open the status window, but it simply does not appear.

when i right click folders in the start menu and click open or explore, i get the same thing - it does not open the window, but it appears to want to for a short fraction of a second.

I do have another account and that one CAN access the network status window, but also has the same problem with the start menu.

I have run antivirus from AVg, as well as anti spyware, both ad aware SE and spybot search and destroy. came up with nothing (and they are up to date - full scans as well on everything)

I have windows xp sp2, fully patched minus KB925902 which i know causes major headaches.