Windows locking up

For the past week, I have come across a problem where my computer completely locks up after windows is loaded and i log in to my user profile. I am able to run safe mode but that is the extent of what i can do with my computer at the moment.

Gateway 831GM
Windows XP Media Center Edition

 

In Safe Mode:
Start, Run, eventvwr.msc

Do the Event Logs give any clue as to the problem?

This KB article discusses the most common reasons for your issue post-logon:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;256194

It would help to know if you can access Task Manager, and what proesses are using the most CPU cycles, in your troublesome Normal startup.

In addition, if in Normal startup a Ctrl-Alt-Del sequence can bring up Task Manager whether Explorer.exe is running. If it is, kill the process. Then File, New Task, explorer.exe

If you can do all that, does the desktop then appear?