Explorer.exe - recycle bin / trash can crash

Greetings to everyone at DellTalk,

Problem:
After emptying the trash can and returning to the desktop, I almost systematically receive the following message: "explorer.exe has encountered an error and will now close". All programs close and re-open, the toolbar and all desktop icons disappear then reappear, as they were before the crash.

Action taken:
1. Contact support by email, answer: re-install windows. I don't have much experience but this seemed a little drastic for a first attempt solution. After scouring Delltalk  I have tried the below solutions found there, suggested by Karrell.

2.  Removed any autoexec.bat, config.sys, win.ini files; emptied Temp & Temporary Internet Files folders, problem remained unsolved.

3. SFC /Scannow scan using the Windows XP re-install disc. Result: all clear, no corrupt files indicated, but problem remained. As no corrupt files indicated, no need to do a "repair reinstall", I presume.

4. Testing all elements in the Msconfig\Startup tab (removing them all and checking them one by one) to try and find any suspects. Result: "CTHELPER" (linked to my sound card, I think), "Digital Line Detect" (not sure what this does) and "zlclient" (linked to zonealarm firewall) seemed to be related to the crash. When all three are unchecked: no crash; but when I check only these 3 (individually) also no crash. I presume it is a combination of elements causing the problem, but as there are 28 I haven't found the combination.

5. I have checked the drivers for my sound card (up to date), video card (now up to date). Problem remains.

6. Diagnostics using the Dell Resource CD. Express test and Extended Test: all tests passed, but problem remains.

Does anyone have any further suggestions? Is this a serious fault or is it merely an annoying one?

Thanks in advance for any help/advice.