A number of people have reported similar problems recently. If you apply
Windows/Office updates automatically or regularly, could you be suffering
from the following problem? I quote Cindy Meister:

"There are massive problems with the most recent set of updates. There's a
KB article (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918165) describing a workaround
for
some of the problems. But other people are finding they need to uninstall
the updates, especially MSO06-015."

If it isn't that, which version of Word are you using?

Peter Jamieson

Aaron:

I think if you try Office software you will find the browse feature to drill
down through folders and files for Excel and Word will also freeze.  In
additon if you use Windows Explorer it will also not display all the drives
on your PC and will only let you click on a folder and see the contents in
the right Window.  I am going to try and see if the solutions in the first
response to your post will help fix the problem.