Directory Displays But Files Do Not - In Windows 7 64bit

I have a Windows 7 laptop that I have had in my possession since last November 2010.

The files I transferred from an older Windows Vista system - to this new Windows 7 system - were fully functioning then and are fully functioning now (editable, savable, movable, etc.).

Shortly after transferring said files (regarding software and web development projects), I noticed a few directories were not behaving normally. Normal behavior would be defined as the ability to open a particular non-system directory and immediately see the files within that directly displayed in a list.

The misbehaving directories I speak of can be opened, but (1) they appear empty, (2) the vertical scroll bars to the right of the directories "flicker" off an on at a millisecond pace, and (3) the region at the bottom left hand corner of these directories where the number of items is listed . . . displays the actual number of items and, then, displays ZERO items (e.g. flashing back and forth between "185 items" and "0 items").

I can access (copy, edit, save, move, etc.) all of the files (.html, .jpg, and .mov) within various web design applications, Adobe Photoshop, and Apple QuickTime with no problem whatsoever.

Outside of these few misbehaving directories, my entire system appears to be fine.

On the other hand, if I attempt to copy the contents of these directories (from within Photoshop, etc.) into newly created directories . . . and, then, attempt to open up those directories from my desktop (as I would normally do), the same problem occurs.

Whether new directory or existing directory - the same files will not display. Even if I add new files to those directories, those new files meet the same end.

I have two other Windows 7 laptops - as well as an external hard drive - and none of those devices have trouble displaying the contents of the problematic directories I have described.

It would be easy and irritating and painful enough to reformat my system to see if that fixes the issue(s), but I would really like to trace the specific symptom to a specific KNOWN source . . . before falling back on a complete wipe out that may not be necessary.