Windows 7: Computer hangs when clicking on file with .avi extension

Every time I try to click on this particular video file, my computer will start to freeze up.
My laptop is pretty new so I don't think it's a hardware issue.
The avi file is over 700mb. I've tried deleting it via command prompt but it will just hang there.
How can I fix this?

That is very odd. Can you add it to Windows media player and delete it that way?

I'll try that, although I doubt it will work since I've tried deleting it with a file shredder and it just hangs there as well. It's almost as if anything that comes in contact with the file will freeze up my computer.

Time for AV and malwarebytes scans I think.

Have you tried booting into safe mode and deleting? If that doesn't work, boot from a live linux disc and delete it that way.

Oh I think I fixed it. I scanned it with Malwarebytes but it didn't contain any malware, but I tried using Malwarebytes' FileASSASSIN and it removed the avi file completely!

You may need to tame the factory bloatware some: Clean Up Factory Bloatware - Windows 7 Forums

What you are experiencing does happen sometimes. It is happening with your default media player.

Does this happen with only a particular avi file? Does it also happen if you try to open this file with another media player? Does it also happen if you first open the media player non-maximized and then try to open the file via the Menu in the default media player? What happens if you do the same with the default media player maximized.

You might have succeeded in deleting the avi file but the fault may be elsewhere. Of course the first thing to suggest would be to uninstall the media player, manually clean the registry of all references to the offending media player and then after rebooting install it again and retry

Yes, only that particular avi file. I'm using VLC media player and I can play other avi files with no problem. All media players that tried to open that file will cause my computer to hang, so I don't think the problem lies within the media player, but with the avi file.

In view of the clarification that you have now given, it indeed appears that the avi file that you have now deleted was to blame.