scvhost.exe

Sorry about a semi-duplicate post - I had originally listed this in general Windows 2000 when I thought it was a svchost problem.

In any case, I have been using what had been a retired Thinkpad with Windows 2000 on it (I don't really know what SP as it's a loaner). In any case, it had been working fine until this weekend when I would boot up and I would get a black error window which was titled svchost.exe error. However, the text would refer to an scvhost.exe/firewall command error. Windows will run for a few minutes (I can open an application or a folder) but will crash before anything can be done. The desktop turns white and then disappears. I've tried booting into the safety mode and debugging mode, but no difference. I have even gone so far as to externalize the drive and try to access it via another computer. Unfortunately, I can't access one of user folders so I can't do any antiviral/antispyware cleaning. Anyone have any suggestions or is this PC dead and buried?

Thanks in advance.