Start Up and Active Problem

Hi

A few weeks back I was loading a licence onto my computer when it froze. I hence turned off the computer. However on startup thereafter, over the past few weeks, XP tries to load the internet explorer. Also while the internet explorer is running, I am now unable to access any folders. On the windows task manager iexporer.exe shows up twice. Also while on the internet, I am unable to open any new links in another browser not am I able to open more that one browser without causing the computer to freeze. Upon closing the browser, iexplorer.exe still shows up once in the task manager and I need to end this process first before I am able to look in any of my folderss.

Help! Please advise.
Tasneem Harnekar