ack.. just scanned over most of the pages of this thread...

I think you could have backed up your files and re-installed Winblows a dozen times or so by now. ...and thats my suggestion. Save your pics, music, spreadsheets, game saves or whatever to CD, DVD or another harddrive(partition). Then format C: and reinstall Windows, its updates and all drivers and software.

Takes less time the dealing with some of these "bugs".