Basically, whenever I boot up XP, the explorer will not start. If I try to run it from the Task Manager, it closes again in a matter of seconds. It will then try to open itself up again... but then closes. (Every time it reloads, it un-focuses any window, making this difficult to type x_x )

It started happening last night. I'll give a summary of what I did recently on the computer. Originally, I was facing problems with Norton Antivirus, where the list of unresolved security risks would not load. I contacted Tech Support, and they told me to reinstall it, which seemed to work. Meanwhile, I was also having trouble loading certain websites (EBay, Amazon, etc). I did some googling, and found a program called TCP Optimizer. I downloaded, installed, and ran that program, and "optimized" my router settings. After that was done, TCP Optimizer asked me to restart my Computer, which I did. After the computer rebooted, the explorer problems began (However, I can view those sites now x_x).

I did look around some other threads here concerning similar problems to the one I am currently facing, but they all seemed to reach dead ends, or were specific to the original poster. One thing I came across the most on these threads was a program called HijackThis, or something to that effect. I'm not really sure what it is, but I assume I'll be needing it to fix this problem. I'm not sure where to download it, though.

Hi.. Have you tried a system restore to pre- all of the installations and uninstalltions?

A system restore has crossed my mind, but I would much rather attempt to fix the problem before I do that. Mostly because the TCP optimizer did in fact fix a problem I was encountering earlier, and I fixed my Norton problem, so I'd have to undo several fixes to solve my problem with a restore.

ok.. if you restore pre-all problems would that not take the system files back to a stage where the "TCP optim" is of no use, as that problem hasn't happened yet?
Lets travel back in time lol
System restore hands down

you need to fix the explorer problem and not worry about tcp optimizer as you have the explorer problem first! I suggest you do a system restore back to before you had the explorer starting problem ,and if it fixes explorer and you still can't get to ebay and such re-run tcp optimizer again !
for more info on system restore and hijackthis program try a neat program called www.google.com

try and install Firefox, good, simple, stable and then when running you can delete and reinstall IE7
M

I'm talking about windows explorer, which is essentially the entire windows interface including the taskbar and desktop. Not internet explorer.

I decided this was the best course of action... but then ran into another problem. Apparently, System Restore won't restore to a point that is infected if you have recently cleared said infection. I did this when I fixed my Norton Anti-virus. So now I either need to fix the problem itself, or somehow make system restore... well, restore my system.

if windows explorer is corrupted you will not be able to do much in windows, thats is a core file for windows to work properly,,try doing a repair installation this delete all system files and reinstall them, you will not loose you installed application.

I'll give this a shot. How do I execute a repair installation?

you need to have windows XP bootable Cd, pop it in set your bios to boot from the Cd of press the corresponding key in your bios screen to bring up the boot menu and choose the CD drive, if you see a line saying " Press any key to boot from cd" press any key, let the installation run, when it find a previous installation of windows you will see the screen saying something to the effect " Windows found a previous installation of windows.......""" then press R to repair, go through the steps and let winds restart, Come back and let us know what happen