TJ please!
You might need  the Service Pack 2  for xp if it's not installed already in order to install IE7. If IE7 is an option in windows update(there should be a shortcut to it somewhere on your start menu) just download and install it from windows update if not check to see if you're running sp2. system info should be an option in somewher in accesories in your start menu.

 If you need to install sp2:

it took me a year to get that to install from windows update right! don't do it without checking for updates from your computer manufacturer and then get the install cd mailed to you from ms. the cd is about 2 bucks  

there are also a couple of log files that get corrupted that you will need to remove - let me know if you need to know what they are as I'll have to look them up

good luck,
-TJ