Weird problems with XP Pro

Windows XP Pro SP3 - the PC is set up with two user accounts; both are Admin accounts. If I log into "acct A", everything runs fine: IE is fine, OE is fine, no problems what-so-ever. If I log into "acct B", there are some real problems: when opening the Control Panel, if I click on "switch to classic view", nothing happens; if I right click the Start Menu and select Properties, then Advanced, none of the changes I make to any settings here "stick"; they appear to, but when I re-open the Start Menu properties, all the settings I've changed have reverted to how they were originally; Internet Explorer surfs OK (after much work and going back to IE6) but will not download anything, for example, if I use a "Major Geeks" download link, nothing happens until I click the manual 'start download' button, but if I choose an "Internode Australia" download button, the download tries to start as it normally would, but in either case I get the error shown in the first screenshot below; on account "B", it's impossible to drag-n-drop something to the Recycle Bin, you can right-click and click "Delete" and that works OK. I could on and on with the problems in "acct B". From what I've been told, the person that uses "acct A" was 'cleaning the system and removing stuff' and somehow completely hosed "acct B" in the process. The second screen shot below is what happens when Outlook Express is opened on "acct B". Outlook Express was previously working just fine, then "acct A" did some 'cleaning'.... Here's what I've tried so far: System Restore, Dial-A-Fix, Internet Explorer 8 removal and re-install and re-uninstall since IE8 doesn't seem to like "acct B", complete Windows safe repair installation, numerous other "fixes" that I've read about here and there. No dice. It's almost like a group policy was enabled that prevents "acct B" from making ANY changes; I just now tried to enable the viewing of hidden & system files/folders via the "Tools > Folder Options", and agina the changes appeared to 'stick', but when I went back to check, all the changes I had made had reverted back to how they were. Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

 

:-o Seems so painfully obvious that I have hard time believing that I wasted as much time as I did trying fix it!!! roflmao

I've already backed up the "My Documents" and "Favorites" and all the Outlook Express stuff from "acct B", so creating a new account shouldn't be a big deal. Geeeeez.... sometimes I don't realize I have a head-ache until someone hits me in the brain with a bat (if you know what I mean). LOL

Thanks for steering me to an easy (and what should have been obvious) solution!
:-D