My OS (Windows XP Pro) has started acting strange. If I try to open a jpeg file from my desktop (the jpegs open through Picasa with no problem), my CPU usage (observed from the task manager) soars to 100%. Then, the task bar (system tray, start menu and everything), and desktop icons disappear. The only way that I can navigate around the computer is by pulling up the task manager (Ctrl+Alt+Del) and going from there.

I didn't notice this problem before I installed the Google web accelerator. I uninstalled the web accelerator and I did a system restore to a point prior to its installation and still am not having any luck.

Intermittently, when I try to open My Computer, it fails to populate and fails to respond. Intermittently, when I open the Control Panel, and go to add and remove programs, it fails to populate and fails to respond. I get a rundll32.exe not responding error message.

Do I need to insert the windows disc and do a windows repair, or reinstall my OS, or is there something else I can do to repair this thing? The OS has been operating on my computer for about 3 years now. I am operating with a gig of RAM; could one of those sticks be failing? I run a spyware program and an anti-virus program frequently and the programs do not find anything.

Thank you,
Charles Holloway
Eugene, OR

It's almost certainly something corrupt in the operating system. I doubt that it's the RAM, but anything's possible. Did you install any new software before this trouble began? I think your best bet would be to run a repair on the OS.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx