sorry, but i realy dont like xp in the first place, so you wont get a particularly "microsoft flatering" answer from me lol
sounds like something in your registry is fubard, and the easiest way is prob gona b to do another format, then go sue microsoft for being such idiots (well, that last bit is just what i would like to do it, but if you want to pay my legal fees im quite happy to tag along lol)
dont blame your computer, its just doing what it thinks ur telling it to. microsoft are the idiots who need to learn to program lol. i meen, if you were installing windows, it shouldnt even let you out of setup without creating at least one accout...
you want the best solution to this problem? buy a mac! LOL! (i did warn you at the start lol sorry)