Reddog-
Welcome

Here is link to MS KB 299526
How To Re-Create a Missing Automated System Recovery Floppy Disk in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;299526(I finally figured out the broken url thing)
You can change your desktop to "classic",makes it easier to use(old style)
You need to be careful using registry cleaners,as you learned the hard way

I use RegSeeker and RegCleaner.
I am also running XP Pro SP2 with no problems with Avast but my firewall is not seen,( Sygate) but it is running so I could care less

I have links to these and other good programs on my site
-max