This is strange, but I often encounter the whole "last-used wallpaper" display during shutdown, because I too am not using desktop icons. I think this is just a consequence of disabling desktop...

Did a little bit of searching, check this:
http://en.kioskea.net/forum/affich-19119-no-sound-from-web-browser

Appears this issue isn't uncommon, and the original poster shares your symptoms.
...

Found this on the interwebs... don't know how relevant it is, therefore, to "INVALID BOOT.INI" file.

[However if you get this message, "'attrib' is not recognized as an internal or external...

Curious: have you tried removing all drivers, then rebooting? I keep thinking this has to do with Windows behaving funny specifically when trying to communicate with the sound device, yet....

This...

Not sure if this is exactly it, but try out a ALC888 install, that's what I think you need: http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/1265/Realtek_HD_Audio_2.09_2K/XP_.html

Just a note, I believe you...

Haha, same here, schuchz. Best of luck to you, too!

Any more details on this? Sounds like something in that directory is trying to run, but was removed.

At least, do you recall removing any application recently, maybe even a piece of spyware or...

CCleaner (http://www.ccleaner.com/), of course, is an excellent cleaning resource. I use it often, coupled with RegSeeker (http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm) to delete old registry entries and...