[propflux01]

Nope, not the HDD. I found it finally!!!!! Turns out it was one of the RAM sticks after all. When I removed them to install in other computer, they had cooled down enough to operate. I got disgusted and reinstalled the XP, when it slowed down at about 60% again, I started spraying canned air, at first the CPU, then the RAM sticks. When I got to the 3rd stick, all the sudden it started moving again. So I removed the stick, and all started working as advertised!! Woo Hoo!! Now I gotta go buy me another stick, but all else is great with it! Thanxs to everyone for all the suggestions, especially 'rjfvillarosa' for his continuing help.