something that make your system hang randomly can be because (what i remember now):
- unidentified bad sector in hdd.
- faulty ram.
- clashed driver resources. incorrect h/w driver.
- pc...

well acrotray.exe usually don't eat resources,
are you by chance install/uninstall something from adobe or pdf program? probably it is corrupted.
have you try to uninstall the acrobat reader and...

on my computer icon, right click and choose properties
then click on hardware and click device manager button.
on it uninstall your sound device under some sound icon.
restart and usually your...

iwhen you boot up, right after bios screen, is there no:
"press anykey tooboot from cd" or something like it.
it only stay for 5 seconds.
are you using crt monitor? because the screen power up is...

try disabling several start up programs in safe mode by using msconfig, to see what's clogging your system...

i don't know if this is working on xp home,
but try to just go to step three in installation, instead going right to the first 'r' repair.
in this third step of installing xp (you'll see your hdd...