I have posted most of the info in the Spyware, Adware HJT log forum (because I originally thought it was related to a virus or browser hijack), and this detailed info can be found here:
http://www.d-a-l.com/help/showthread.php?p=63548
A brief run down of my problem is below:

Yesterday morning I tried to open IE, but received a "runtime error!" in IEXPLOR.EXE, and it refused to open.
I spent the day trying to fix it, but have not been able to. I have run AdAware and Spybot S&D, as well as the latest AVG, and none of them turned up anything. I also ran the scannow sfc tool - didn't help.
A HiJack This Log is inlcuded in the other topic.
ALSO, after giving up on trying to fix IE, I decided to relax and play a bit of GTA: San Andreas, but every time I open it, I get a BSOD concerning win32k.sys (the detailed BSOD is in the other topic). Infuriating.

Now, some b/g info:
Last week I purchased a 512MB stick of RAM 2nd hand off of a friend. My computer didn't like me running 3x sticks of memory at once (2x 256MB and 1x 512MB stick), but I've tested the sticks individually, and they all seem fine.
I've played with the timings a bit, and memtest now runs without errors, but P95 is a little funky... More info (on my setup and the errors I've been getting) can be found here:
http://www.nforcershq.com/forum/erro...6c9f451f9f4a69

This is absolutely infuriating. This is the first problem I've ever had where I can't even succesfully troubleshoot the cause.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.

Your STOP: 0x0000008E, (0xC0000005 .........) in Win32k.sys
suggests possibly:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=330187

Which suggest loading SP2 plus all subsequent updates. (Which should be done regardless).

Also STOP 8E (C05) is often RAM related.

The Runtime error often suggests spyware/ malware
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/...xplorer&qt_g=1

Your RAM issue is well covered in your other forum.
Apparently some issues there but you appear to have more ideas there than I can expand on.

If you want to trace your STOP errors further:

Go to start | search (type in) .dmp
Note the location of your latest .dmp file.

Then:

1) Download and install the
Debugging Tools from Microsoft
2) Download and install this
debugwiz
3) Open the Wiz & Browse to, or paste in the path to, your latest .dmp file.
4) After the Wiz creates a Text document attach it back to this thread.

I've been loathe to install SP2, because of the apparent performance hits it will give the system. I also don't like the intrusive 'security centre.'
I suppose however because of the buggy nature of windows, it would probably be best to install it - especially because of my current situation.
I am now downloading the debugging software, and when I get home on Thursday I will give it a run.
I will also fall back to my original 2x 256MB RAM for a few days to see how things go.
As far as spyware goes, neither adaware or Spybot report anything strange. I also do not see any processes running that I cannot identify as anything that shouldn't be there, and one of the forum members took a look at my HJT log and could see nothing fishy either.
I'm waiting for the next AVG update just in case it is a virus, but that is looking less likely now.

Thank you for the info on debugging, I think I will find that very useful - both now and in the future.

Almost all of the features of SP2 Security Center can be turned off.

There have been nearly a years' worth of updates that build on SP2.

I am aware of the general issues that related to SP2 when it came out a year ago but most application issues have been resolved.

It also relates to your I.E. which is now also at SP2.

The debug logs are very helpful & detailed.

Hope this helps.

Well, I installed SP2, and during it's first boot, I had another win32k.sys BSOD (with different addresses this time). It should also be noted that I reverted back to my original RAM and settings before installing in an attempt to make my PC once again stable.
After the obligatory restart after a BSOD, windows at least made it to the desktop before another win32k.sys BSOD.
So after my third boot into (the wonderful) SP2, I try IE. The same error. I look up how to re-install IE on the microsoft knowledge base, and it says for SP1 to run scannow /sfc, and for SP2 to simply re-install SP2. No help. So I run scannow, and IE still doesn't work.
I've just installed the de-bugging software.
Here is the debug info from all the dumps (numbers of files are -YYYYMMDD -HHMM):
Okaaaaay.... I don't see an "attach" button on the "reply to thread" page...
I don't really want to add them to my post as there are 6 of them, and that would of course make for a huge reply...
PM me, maybe? Or if it is believed to be useful enough for me to post all 6 of them, let me know... Cheers

Looking at the debug logs myself, they seem to be pointing at ati3duag.dll So I am now updating my video drivers (It's been a while... I actually use the Omega tweaked drivers, but I don't think that would affect the stability). Hope updating them will help... Not with IE obviously, but at least with the BSODs.

After updating the video drivers, I can now open GTA: San Andreas without a BSOD. Whether or not this has solved the entire BSOD issue only time will tell.
IE still does not work, so I am running a full AVG virus scan tonight to see what happens.
Thank you jephree for the info on the debug logs!

If you scroll down the Reply to Thread page you will see:

Attach Files / Manage Attachments

The more I search: "runtime error!" in IEXPLOR.EXE the more I get Spyware issues.

Perhaps you might try posting another log in the HijackThis section.

Does your Firefox run OK?

As to the: win32k.sys BSOD: most searches point to RAM or else Graphics drivers.

Here is just one example with various issues raised:

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/t1031315908

Thanks heaps for the info.
I have since re-installed SP2 (in an attempt to get IE working as well me not trusting it's installation becasue of the BSODs I receieved during first boot). There were no BSODs this time, so things are looking up.
IE still doesn't work however. I've turned on automatic updates, and am hoping that there are some new updates available to me since installing SP2.
FF still works (thank the powers above), so I am actually posting all of these from the very same PC that was/is going crazy.

PS it was getting pretty late by the time I wanted to attach the mem dumps - so I'm not surprised I missed the attach button. I will attach all six now for interest. Ok, maybe just the last 5 in this post... (upload limit)
PPS the AVG scan returned a negative result (i.e. no virus).
PPPS I've posted a fresh new HJT log over at the original thread.

I will look at the logs tonight.

Counting my own system: there have been 23 critical updates to SP2.

Several of them referring to I.E.

Here is a good scan (Belarc) that shows all this. Under Belarc SP2 updates are listed as SP3.

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html