program(s) won't load when opened

[nikittoburitto]

whenever i try to open certain programs, it loads (the hourglass shows up next to the mouse) for about one second then nothing happens. i open the task manager to see if it is running in the background or something, but it isn't.

for example, when i open the installer file for 3dmark '06 it does this. i have gotten the installer from several different locations hoping that maybe it was a corrupt file, but it never works. i have opened the same installer on other computers too, so it's a problem unique to this computer.

this does happen with a handful of other programs too, not just this one. and it's not just because its an installer or large file, because i can open other installers and large files (and other large installers). any ideas what the problem could be?

[pam123]

If it's very recent and you have XP try using System Restore.
If that won't do it then post back when this started and all the other programs that aren't loading.
Also do a scan for malware.