Your options differ depending on if you are using XP Pro or XP Home. In XP
Pro you can also use lusrmgr.msc to access local users and groups for
management of. Anyhow your symptoms may be due to problems with malware or
spyware. So be sure to check for both and remove whatever your applications
find being sure to use the latest definitions for whatever you scan with.
The links below help with that if you are unsure how to proceed. You also
could have a problem with file corruption or a problem with applications
conflicting with each other. Try booting into Safe Mode to see if that makes
a difference or not. If that works and your believe it is not virus or
spyware related due to the results of your scans you can use msconfig to do
selective startup of services and logon processes to try and determine what
is causing the problem.
If all that fails you can try running System File Checker on your computer
as in sfc /scannow and it probably will ask for your install disk. If
nothing seems to help a last resort solution would be a repair install as
described in the last link below and be sure to read all the information
before proceeding so you know all that is involved including the need to
install your service pack [if not sliptreamed into the install disk] and
downloading all critical security updates which can tale a very long time if
you are on dial up internet connection.
Steve
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/default.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/viruses/default.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/ -- Protect Your PC
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ --- Trend Micro online scan
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm --- XP repair
install
