Desktop Icons slow to open

After booting up my PC the first thing I try to open on my desktop, is slow to open(7 - 10 seconds depending on if Norton AV2000 is enabled or disabled). Whether it is My Documents folder, My Briefcase, Recycle Bin or a specific program. After opening the initial program all others open quickly(1 second). I do a disk defrag at least monthly, but this also occurs right after a defrag so I don't think that's the problem. Have had the PC for a year and I run maintenance regularly (at least once a month). I have 128MB of Ram, PIII 450, system resources start at about 87%. This just started in the past couple of months. Can't seem to figure this one out. Any ideas??

bill (not gates)