Windows Explorer slow finding drives

I have Windows XP Pro and have been experiencing a double problem, if I open windows explorer it takes about 3 minutes for it to bring up the drives for me to search. I also have a problem with Internet explorer 6. What ever url I type in the window will not load. I have to go to a site I’ve been to before (dogpile) and do a search for the website I’m looking for and open it from there. I’ve had this Gateway computer a little over a month and have been able to go to system restore and restore to a week ago and everything would work OK but now that doesn’t work either, any suggestions? Thanks!!!