I have a problem... when I try to run any program it says, "Windows cannot find (file path). Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the start button, and then click search."

This is the message I get when I try to use anything... can someone please help?

Just before I started getting this message, viruscan detected something called winampw.exe, which I then deleted.

After reading some of the old posts here, I went to download HijackThis, but encounetered the same "error" message.

Could anyone help? Plllllease? :)

try this link...sounds like your exe file associations are messed as result of virus.

http://www.dougknox.com/

click on winxp fixes on left, file association fixes, exe association fix. The instructions on how to use it are on the page...likely have to use someone elses puter to download and extract the zip..it will be a .reg file...run that on your computer
That will repair the problem you are having.
When you have done that; update av prog and run another scan from safe mode...
hope that helps

Good luck