Sorry to be so blunt, but I am in a huge rush, I will try and explain everything thats happened!

Yesterday I finally go so fed up of the 'Not enough resources to complete API' message after 'hibination', that I downloaded the hotfix for the problem off the Microsoft website. I installed both parts of the fix, and in the same session also installed an update for WMP11, and McAfee. To finalise all of these installs I rebooted, with O&O defrag set to run an offline defrag.

When I did reboot, I logged in, and found that the computer was very slow loading the desktop, and hung on the blue 'Logging in' page for maybe a minute or so. I didn't think anything of it as I thought the system may be processing the new settings for the Hotfix. When the system stop loading, and went to desktop, I found that there were no icons, or taskbar. Again the computer hung for around 2 minutes this time. And finally the icons appeared. But there was no task bar. Only a thin blue line at the bottom of the screen (as if the top 1mm of the task bar). To see just what was happening I did Ctrl+Alt+Del, and went into task manager. The processes page showed that only around half of the usual amount of programmes running on start up were present. And none had the name of the 'User' by them (eg. Alex, SYSTEM etc.) To try and fix the problem, I ended the explorer.exe, and restarted it again. This brought some joy as now the top 2mm of the task bar was showing, and I could just make out the top of the start button. I went into Control Panel, and Add/Remove Programmes, and tried to uninstall both parts of the Hotfix, aswell as the update for WMP11. Both uninstallers ran, but the programme remained in the window. I tried uninstall again, but still no joy... So I then tried to use System Restore. But a warning came up telling me that 'System Restore is not protecting your computer, please reboot and try again'. So I shut down once more, and once again went through the painful process of the slow start up. Still System Restore wouldn't work. (BTW, I am sure system restore is on, as when I was going through Nick's tweeks, I made a point of not disabling it, and was sure that it was enabled.. Although I have restricted the memory it can use, and cleared earlier restore points, but there was a recent one present)
I checked Add/Remove programmes again, and the list still included the Hotfix's. So I tried to uninstall again. Still no joy.

Becoming more and more annoyed. I booted in safe mode, and low and behold the problem is still there. I tried uninstalling there. But yet again, nothing changed.

One Final restart and I tried the uninstall YET AGAIN. This time it worked, and a box came up, telling me that a number of things could be affected... Such as my mouse, keyboard, and processer, along with other things. Being stupid, I assumed that this was just a meaningless caution, for Microsft to cover thier backs incase. I mean, why should they be affected when I only installed the Fix y.day, and all had been working fine before? So I uninstalled, and it appeared to work, although the mouse and keyboard were still working.

Thinking this would have fixed the problem, I rebooted once more, jujst to check. When the Logon screen appeared, neither my mouse, or keyboard worked.. But I did try ONE MORE reboot, to see if they would work in the BIOS settings, and low and behold it did. I managed to get into setup using my keyboard..

So now, aftyer being unplugged all night, and tried again this morning, my computer is sitting in my office, completely unuseable..

Does anyone have any clue as the WTF has happened?! There are some very important documents on there, including much school work, and the eTicket and Iternery for my families skiing holiday next year, and so I am reluctant to format again..

I am posting this rather than ringing support, as both Microsoft and Dell both seem to think that the world stops on a Saturday, and so they don't need call centres that day

I have not tweaked, or changed any windows settings recently, nor installed any other programmes. I scan regually for Virus' and Spyware, and De-fragment atleast once a month....

Any help is greatly appreciated,

A really really annoyed, and quite worried,

Alex  

PS. Sorry for any Grammatical or Spelling mistakes, but this was all written in a rush

DISCLAIMER: Although mentioned, by no means are the tweaks proposed by Nick the cause of this incident, they have been running on my system for over a month now, and I have had no problems.