"Heck, they get killed by the Kodak photo CDs from the Big Box stores, that one rewrites IE."
What does this mean?
I mean Kodak installs new DLLs, registry entries, and other goodies to run its picture browser. When you pop in the CD it is installed automatically. There is no uninstall. Wipe and reinstall.
This software won't install if you're running as a Limited User, but you're running as Admin, aren't you? I suspect this latest batch of spyware only installs as admin.
Sometimes, QB won't run after the KKodak changes. Hope you have a recent backup. Giftworks almost never runs. Many other apps barf on the changes.
BTW, Microsoft says XP was designed to run as admin in a KB article. I use a Mac.