Odd and major problem with WinME and Internet

[TnT]

My friend is using WinME and he's been having a freezing problem whenever he opens IE. My Computer and My Documents won't open up, Windows Explorer freezes. I'm thinking it has something to do with his Entrega Technologies (now Xircom) USB to Ethernet Converter because we disabled it in Device Manager and IE would then not freeze (with no connection of course), but My Computer will still not open. All through this AIM would open though and connect when the Network Adapter was still enabled. This is on a Gateway computer.

Okay, I just got back from another guys room and his computer is doing a similar thing. His won't completely freeze when he connects with IE, but the Explorer and IE will freeze. Then trying to go to the Start menu will freeze WinME. His computer goes further then the other guys, but it still freezes. This is on a Dell.

I'm also hearing that others are having similar problems, but I don't know what exactly is happening.

[Wombat]

AOL brazenly installs its own TCP/IP implementation, killing off the default one. This might be getting in the way.

[TnT]

I know AOL fooks up a lot, but his computer used to work before and the other guy only has AIM not AOL. I may have him uninstall AIM and see what happens though.