Ravon

At boot up is there and F key option for advanced boot menu?

sounds like a failing hard drive to me

Its nothing to do MS this time its European governements anti trust suits. There are versions of XP for Europe which does not have media player in fact there are 3 versions K N and KN all slightly different . Anybody who can not find a way around finding a browser should not be installing one. I have seen quite a few make a fuss of this but I see it as a none issue