I've went the re-install route more than once when using Windows 98 and agree that sometimes that's the only recourse but hate to see Sticks lose everything he has on his computer, especially things like that SP2 upgrade that takes forever.

Sticks, has anyone done a remote assistance session with you? I'm willing to give it a shot if we can both find a convenient time. I recently started a new job and work 8a-6p (1300-2300 GMT) M,W,Th, F so I don't make it on as often as I used to but on weekends or Tuesdays time shouldn't be an issue.

Hate to see you have to reinstall from scratch. Some suggestions .. another poster already recommended running Spybot and Ad-Aware and that's a good idea. Those freebies sometimes find stuff the other ones miss. Can't hurt.

I'd also recommend you download CCleaner. It's a freebie system optimization tool that might snare those pesky remnants that you can't get rid of.

One last suggestion and that's after running those three programs to use XP's error-checker, which unlike some previous versions of Windows, is hard to find on XP. Here's a link on how to use it with some screenshots. (I prefer the "graphical version" which is the second method listed).

Good luck!