Howlin, did you try and boot up with the xp cd?
Also, when you did your update at MS, what updates did you select and were any of them drivers?
Speaking of technical problem. My mother just called me. She came home and turned off her ignition key and her car keeps right on running... The car has a car starter that has never worked since she has owned the car but pressing the brake does not shut the car off either. So I am off to see what I can do before she runs out of gas...LOL Good luck to you all.