Various display problems can be caused by a number of things, so you may have to try several of these fixes until you find the solution:

1. 1.If you're running any anti-virus software, turn it off.   (Be sure it's really off.)
   

2. 2.If you're using a Finder replacement (such as Pathfinder), be sure the Finder is running.
   

3. 3.If you're using Spaces, turn it off temporarily.
   

4. 4.If you have a second monitor, or anything (even just a plug or cable) connected to a video-out port, disconnect it temporarily.
   

5. 5.If you're backing up to a Time Capsule, make sure the Enable file sharing box is checked on the Disks panel of Airport Utility.
   

6. 6.De-select your Time Machine drive via Time Machine Preferences > Select Disk (Change Disk on Leopard):  select Do Not Back Up (or the "none" entry on Leopard or Snow Leopard), then re-select the correct one.
   

7. 7.It's a bit Windoze-like, but try Restarting your Mac.
   

8. 8.Do a "complete reset" of Time Machine, per item #A4.
   

9. 9.Repair your backups, per item #A5.
   

10. 10.See this Apple article:  If past backups are missing from the timeline.
    

10. 10.Try or create another user account (System Preferences > Accounts).  If it works ok from that user, go back to the original user and, delete this file:  
    

               <home folder>/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist   

1. (If you have a problem finding the file, see item #A7.)
   

2. Then either Restart your Mac, or select the Apple icon in your Menubar, then Force Quit, then select Finder in the window and click Relaunch. 
   

11. 11.If you’re on Snow Leopard, prior to 10.6.4, and the Address Book app is "stuck" when in your backups, so you can’t restore anything, see item #E5