Software Issue: Windows Script 5.6

Hey all. Having a minor software problems that perhaps some of you gurus can solve, to wit: my Windows Script 5.6 keeps failing, requiring reinstallation after some (not all) start-ups. It's very strange. My work-around is fairly simple: I keep the script.exe on my Desktop, and simply reinstall it whenever it has failed. When the Script 5.6 is not working, the following programs and functions are also screwy (they require some sort of scripting):

1) Norton Internet Security (sticks at "refreshing" and never moves to status - once the script is reinstalled, works fine)
2) Yahoo Messenger (doesn't show ingoing or outgoing messages, and shuts down erratically when the script is not working - once the script is reinstalled, works fine)
3) Help and Support (doesn't load at all when the script is not working - once the script is reinstalled, works fine)

I'm running XP Pro on an old Pentium III 997 Mhz Dell Dimension 4100. The problem seemed to start when I installed either IE7 beta or WMP 11 beta, though I almost never use either of these. The problem may also be connected with a weird inconsistency at start up, whereby sometimes all the designated start up programs icons show up in the System tray, and sometimes only a few of the icons show up in the system tray (though all the processes are running, according to the Task Manager). Weird stuff. I think it may be a registry issue.

Before you say it, please don't bother suggesting a Mac. I've used Macs, and I am most definitely a PC guy. I also think I know a bit about software. I dual-boot this machine with XP Pro and Ubuntu 6.06. I just recently upgraded to Dapper, and I solved the attending Xserver and sound problems on my own, prior to seeing the solutions on the ubuntuforums. Point being, I'm not completely without chops here, but I remain befuddled by the Windows Script issue. Obviously, reinstalling the script from the .exe after half my start ups is a pretty choppy and annoying solution!

Howzat for a puzzle? Cheers, and thanks!