Programs terminate when opening files?

This happens sporadically on my new Optiplex GX620 system with Dual core processor, 2 gigs ram.
When I go to "file" "open" my program will terminate and I'm back on the desktop before I get the chance to even select a folder or file. This was happening in three of my graphics programs yesterday all at the same time and today it isn't happening. Sometimes it will happen in only one program and not the others. An odd thing is if I go into explorer and double click a file I can open it that way.
I've scanned for viruses, installed Windows XP over itself in case something was corrupted.
The computer was doing this few weeks ago and then suddenly started working fine.
Any suggestions? Thanks

 

I would suspect the drivers first (graphics, although these are controlled by the chipset drivers). After that, (and maybe as well as) reinstall the graphics software programs.

Matt