Windows XP problems

[iThinkYouBrokeIt]

I just got a new computer, with Windows XP, and I am experiencing some problems with it. I am wondering if anybody knows of ways to fix these problems...

Start Menu. Sometimes, when I try to click on my start button to access my programs list, nothing happens. I just click on it and i get nothing. I press the Windows button on the keyboard, and nothing happens. This also happens with at least one other user on the computer.
Also, my Quick Launch buttons don't show for some reason.

Windows Media Player. When I try to play an MPEG-2 file in Windows Media Player, it crashes, during playback or during seeking. Some MPEG-2 files play perfectly, though.

I have uninstalled Media Player and reinstalled. But, I had to install WMP9 instead of WMP10 because I for some reason didnt have the install file for wmp10. I am currently downloading wmp10 with my 56k dialup.

I have Windows XP Home Edition.
80GB hard drive
AMD Athlon 64bit 2Ghz
512MB RAM
It is shared by the family, so it has 8 user accounts.

Am I possibly missing an update? Please....
any help is greatly appreciated.

- James

[iThinkYouBrokeIt]

update:

I found out that it messes up during seeking of an MPEG-2 file that is VBR. CBR plays just fine. I believe it is using the CyberLink MPEG-2 decoder, which should be very well capable of decoding VBR MPEG-2....
Perhaps an update for CyberLink PowerDVD?

Windows Media Player and RealOne both crash during seeking of a VBR MPEG-2 file, but Media Player Classic plays them just fine.

[lumis]

what version of powerdvd are you using?

i like version 4/xp with the update

version 5.x was horrid.

version 6 is almost good..

version 4/xp is great

[iThinkYouBrokeIt]

i believe its powerdvd 4. i dont remember downloading any updates. i'll check it out...

[bazooka]

The start menu thing might be a program eating up all your ram and processor power.

That really might not be a XP thing.

[guns1inger]

Don't use WMP for playing anything.
Download Crap Cleaner ( http://www.ccleaner.com ) and give everyhting a good shake out. Then download and run HijackThis and do the same (careful with this one, it can kill your system in the wrong hands). Finally, if you aren't running SP2, try doing a repair install of windows. You will have to do the windowsupdate thing again, but it can put a lot right.

[iThinkYouBrokeIt]

i'll check out the CCleaner, but i wouldnt want to try the other one if it can "kill your system in the wrong hands". i wouldnt want to risk killing my brand new system.

anyways, i hardly ever use WMP. I only really need it for is two things. Playing T2 in HD, and making vcd entry points with VCDEasy.

I believe the problem with WMP has something to do with the MPEG decoder. I can play dvd's just fine using PowerDVD or WinDVD.
I'll download the update for PowerDVD and see if that has any effect. until then, i'll just try to avoid using VBR MPEG in (s)vcd's. it just sucks...