computer acting very strange - am scared

[hermes]

Hi guys,

Would be so grateful for advice on some problems i am having with my laptop computer (windows xp).

1) The sound seems somewhat corrupted - for example the tune that windows xp plays when it loads up is heavily, heavily corrupted. It grates me every time I hear it.

2) IE crashes a few times a day when I go on certain websites. Firefox and Opera do not.

Both these problems have only developed in the last few weeks. I am particularly worried as in this time I have installed software that I got from peer to peer networks. I have done virus checks (using Avast! anti-virus) and nothing has come up. I have done spyware check using ad-aware and cleared out some crap but the problems have not stopped.

Would be so grateful if anyone could give me possible leads.

[bill]

It's probably something installed by the P2P software you mentioned. Is there any way you can go back to a Restore Point before you installed that software?

Some related articles I found on the MS KB:
Resources for Troubleshooting Sound Problems in Windows XP [support.microsoft.com]
Startup Sound Plays Irregularly After Upgrade to Windows XP from Windows Me [support.microsoft.com]