I have AVG Anti virus and have run Ad-Aware on my system but still seem to be having a problem. When I go to load a program (usually a game) it starts to load normally, then all of a sudden it switches back to windows with the game in a minimized window on the toolbar. Once you click on the tab to maximize the program it goes there for a second, then right back to the desktop. The only way to shut the program down at that point is to do a ctrl-alt-delete then close it with task manager. I am running XP. Any ideas as to what my problem is?

Is the game you are trying to run an old version ? Is it compatible with XP ... i think you may have an XP bug .... not sure though haven't heard of a problem like that before. If the problem isn't happening with all exe files then make a list of the problem programmes and check to see if they are XP compatible ... seems to be most logical thing ... i can't see a security problem there.

The game(s) I am trying to run have run just fine on this machine before. I had this problem once before, then it cleared up. Now it is back. Kind of weird

Maybe you installed something that is causing the problem ... that is weird. Maybe something is corrupted .. but if it occurs just with games exe's then i'd have to say the problem is with the games files alone. Try removing and installing again ... clean registry after removal IF YOU CAN DO THAT. Should help ...