I have XP on a desk top computer and that sometimes happens to me.
If it won't shut down I press the OFF button on the front of the case and let it try to restart. Other screens may appear but just leave them alone.
Otherwise switch off at the main socket, leave for 30 seconds to completely shut down and then restart as normal.
Hope this helps.
What Browser are you using for your present postings into AB.?
If you have IE 8 or lower numbered, I would suggest you up-date to IE 9.
You could go to IE 10 but lots of folk have had problems with it's compatibility on some media sites and have reverted to IE 9.
Unfortunately you do have a very old Operating System which next April will cease to have any support from Microsoft. What about your computer, is that also quite old.?
Enough said because I am also quite old and even wonder if I'll be around next April.
Hi, If you can use Firefox, then try this:-
Go to START/ PROGRAMS/ ACCESSORIES/ SYSTEM TOOLS/ SYSTEM RESTORE and try to restore to an earlier date. i.e. before you had the updates.
Methyl has added a superfluous 'r' in his instructions above, which explains why you can't open Internet Explorer in Safe Mode. Try again but this time type 'iexplore -extoff'