opening folder problem

i right click on a folder, wheather it's on the desktop or in another subfolder, i get the empty desktop image for a few seconds and after that i am back on the usual desktop
i can only access and work with the folders by using total commander
this is probably a windows bug, i last installed windows about three quarters of a year ago, but i would prefer to solve the problem, rather than reinstall the sistem
thank you, rafaela