It seems like i've got the only working computer lol

I go over to my buddy's house, sit down at the computer and attempt to open microsoft internet explorer on a Windows XP Home Edition system. I get an error message, send an error report and then the browser closes. I can't get the browser to open so i open up a folder and attempt to use the address bar: the address bar is not enabled, i use the fav. list to create a fav item for the microsoft updates page, install updates, restart and nothing has changed. I've talked w/ everyone who has used the computer and no one remembers downloading anything or making any changes so i do a system restore back two days. When the computer restarts it begins to popup error messages saying that a hardware or network connections error has caused a write error to *** ( where *** is a program), these popup messages keep coming for MANY different programs both in windows folders and general program files. Safe mode has no difference and the lag between popup messages makes doing anything impossible.

Any advice or a customer support number that isn't automated or costly?