Address bar wont retain typed in URLS

First time poster - - I am running XP and uddenly, IE 7 refuses to retain the typed in URLS in my address bar. I have done a lot of reading today and I have gone to "Tools" and reset my browser to original configuration but the URLS still disappear when I close IE and reopen it again. I have rebooted my hard drive numerous time but it is like the system is locked in the delete history and cookies mode or inprivate browsing. I have looked at every setting that I can think of but somewhere, something changed, I have not installed any new programs or done anything that I can think of that would trigger this to happen. ALso did a system restore and still this issue persists. ANy help will really be appreciated because I really despise having to type in URLS that I go to several times a day.

 

You should be using IE8 so looks like you have not been updating. What XP service pack? Should be SP3.