Hello Harlem,
Sounds like quite an issue. Let's start off by running the System File Checker Utility (SFC):
Hold the
Window key and press
R. Type
sfc /scannow in the Run window, and press
Enter.
If SFC does identify missing or corrupted Operating System files, it may ask you to insert your Windows XP installation CD so a fresh copy of the correct file can be copied and pasted into the system files.
If you do not have your Windows XP installation CD, or if errors in the process occur, please post back with specifics or questions.
SFC scan and replacements take about 8-12 minutes depending upon the size of your file tree and the speed of your CPU/RAM. If SFC opens and then closes within a few seconds or under one minute, It did not complete, and must be repeated.
Sometimes, a second scan run of SFC is necessary, even if SFC completes the first time, in order to replace all missing or corrupted files. If SFC completes, you can safely run it a second time for good measure.
A good way to tell whether you should run it again is if you look in the Event Log and see the following Application event entry after running SFC:
Source: Windows File Protection
Event ID: 64002 (or 64021)
You could also try doing a system restore to a point prior to the time the issue first started occurring. Use the above step for getting to the run window, type
rstrui.exe, and press
Enter. Follow the prompts and it will restore your system if it can.
Regards,
Ax