PowerStrip is a little shareware program you should try before getting mad. It is fully functional even as shareware. Look, if that can help you, the program itself is in English language.
Do you use the system recovery function in WIN XP ? That could be a reason as well, especially after a full OS update.
Let us know what happens next...
Edit: Read here...
http://www.entechtaiwan.com/util/ps.shtm