rstrui.exe errors and more...

so.. running 32bit vista... have been for a long time... everything has been smooth until just now... heres a rundown of what has happened:

-windows explorer crashes every time i try and move to any file or folder
-IE crashes anytime it attempts to load any page besides default
-attempt to run a restore and get "c:\windows\system32\rstrui.exe The extended attributes are inconsistent." and Task Scheduler Engine has stopped working (check online for a solution and close blah blah) love that.... and when i do try the useless check online thing it just closes after a couple seconds.. im assuming related to the IE thing...
-windows defender found nothing...
-safe mode gets a repeating windows explorer has stopped working message

any more info you need let me know... im really looking for some input here!

edit: also it seems almost none of the programs that are supposed to open at start up are anymore... no AIM or anything... and no audio... says no audio device is installed in the volume mixer....
(possible hardware issue???)

edit2: msconfig causes an msconfig.exe "The extended attributes are inconsistent." error as well...