Do your drives detect in the bios? Did you flash your bios before?

Maybe your computer was attacked by malwares or trojans or viruses. What you'll need to do is install a firewall aside from your antivirus program to prevent or to protect your system from any...

Download and execute to get rid of the issue:

http://www.techsupportforum.com/sectools/sUBs/Flash_Disinfector.exe

you will have to reinstall them again (antivirus, firewall, etc..). With regard to windows update, try to update again from the microsoft site. Problem persists, do a clean xp install.

I think you will need to set your bios in default values then reboot. Set your settings again that you have before (if any). Next put your winxp cd then key the Ctrl-Alt-Del to restart your computer....

Reinstall and remove from add/remove program.

Have you tried running your system with one memory stick installed? Install first the old one then check what will happen.

Don't use WinXP with service pack slipstreamed cd.

I think there are many programs running in the background. There aren't needed upon starting your windows. You can run all the programs manually. Try to disable some of them in the System...

Try this one.

1. Go to Tools --> Internet Settings.
2. Click on the Security tab.
3. Click on Custom Level.
4. Enable the "Automatic prompting for file downloads" option in the Download...