Help: Power Meter: Explorer Application Error endless loop!

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.work_remotely (More info?)

This error appeared out of nowhere, on my home system which was working
fine. I am not sure where to start. The system was behaving normally. I
tried removing the last few programs that were installed.

The details.

Windows XP Pro SP1 and all security updates.

During the login, when the McAfee virus checker is loading, I get this
dialog box that says
Power Meter: Explorer Application Error Memory could not be read. The
system is a desktop, so I really don't need a power meter.
Once I close the dialog box and report the error, I lose my desktop.
The desktop reappears with this error, and my computer is useless, because
this loop seems to go on forever.

Any ideas on how to fix it?

TIA,

Pete