This is the third Windows Update-related problem on that system... each time I get it going again it lasts for a shorter amount of time. I'm sure the registry has some serious issues at this point. But it's too old to spend much time working on it, and if I'm going to go to the trouble of reinstalling the O/S it's going to be done on a brand new system.

It's my father's system, and the timing couldn't be worse as he's just about to start the year's accounting.

New system I'm putting together for him:

Intel i7-860 2.8ghz quad core
Intel DP55WG Media Series motherboard
8GB Kingston HyperX DDR3 1333MHz
Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 7200RPM
Sapphire ATI HD 5750 Vapor-X 1GB
Plextor SATA 24X DVD-RW
Zalman CNPS9900 NT CPU cooler
Antec Sonata III mid tower w/500w
Noctua 120mm case fans
Windows 7 Professional

Not a bleeding edge speed demon, but all nice, upper-middle-end parts... the system isn't used for gaming or movies or TV, just a general work system.

Of course this happens a week after I order a new system for my mother (hers is one I built EIGHT YEARS AGO - remember RAMBUS? - and it's been running 24x7 ever since... still pretty reliable, but it FEELS like it's 8 years old running today's software). I'm not building the new one myself, it's a nice shiny HP slim system perfect for her tiny desk. :-)