Windows XP won't boot

It will start to boot then stop at preparing network connections...

My computer is a Dell and I got the blue screen of death right before this problem started occuring. Any help would be greatly appreciated.p

Doc isn't online right now, but before he can help you troubleshoot the problem, we need to know what the BSOD said.

Sometimes it gives you information on what driver is crashing, or will give it by just stating a file name and maybe a reason.

I don't remember what the full thing said because it only happened the first time, but it said something like, "If this your first time seeing this screen please reboot." So I did and since then I've been having this problem.

Does the blue screen happen every time you boot up the computer? If yes, then you have to provide the error code in the blue screen so that the problem could be further troubleshooted.

No, it has never happened again after the first time.

Ok, this used to be a common problem in Windows 2000. Are you able to boot into Safe mode with networking?

I need you to download the latest Windows updates and service packs.


EDIT: one more thing, are you using nvidia or ATI integrated graphics?

I'm able to start in safe mode with networking, but I can not download anything and IE cannot connect to the Internet even after I reset it and Firefox works fine.
EDIT:when I try to restrat it normally I now get a error that says "Isass.exe - system error. Object Nsme not found."

Use Firefox to download this patch by Microsoft.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=3549EA9E-DA3F-43B9-A4F1-AF243B6168F3&displaylang=en

After that go to Start >> Search >> Location: All

Find for lsass.exe tell me where it is located at.