Cannot install windows components (Accessories, IE and stuff)

[Kharn]

I am with dave it sound's like you have a iffy stick (or sticks) of RAM in there.

 

[simonsayers]

you think swappin em round would do anything

 

[KSoD]

No. cause if a set is bad then moving it to a new location will not make it better. It will just be in a different spot to cause the same issues.

MemTest86 has to be run to verify that they are good. It doesnt matter the order.

 

[Kharn]

no download Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool and burn it to disk like you did the XP disk and boot your machine off it and leave it to run for several hours and see if you get any errors.