Unable to rename files and folders

Hi all, first time posting and I hope I've entered this in the right place as my question didn't seem applicable to other categories.

I have a Dell Computer running on Windows Vista Home Basic with a 32 bit operating system (don't know if it's relevant to add by there you go..) and everytime I rename a file or folder, explorer freezes and I don't know how I can fix this.

I've tried looking up about what I should do but have found no answers. I read that I should try restarting in safe mode and see if I can change file names there - which I can, but what do I do now?

Please help!

Welcome,
Probably caused by some third party software. Try in clean boot to hopefully find the problem
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

If that does not work, make a full anti virus scan
Download and scan with malwarebytes, be sure to update first.

If you are trying to rename, by a right click and then the context menu, is there any new software listed, if so that is probably the cause.