IExplorer Crashes on Gmail Homepage - Windows XP - mshtml.dll problem

Starting this morning, Internet Explorer crashes as soon as I get to
Gmail's homepage. The error message is that there is a problem with
mshtml.dll. I am using Windows Explorer XP Pro with recommended
updates except for Internet Explorer 7 (I use IE 6) and Outlook
Express (don't use).

I use Internet Explorer 6, ModVer 6.0.2900.2180.

I verified that I have the correct updated version of Java installed.
I also re-registered: urlmon.dll, shdocvw.dll, browseui.dll,
mshtml.dll, jscript.dll, vbscript.dll successfully, and tried to re-
register msjava.dll but it did not succeed.

I don't think that a virus or malware is causing the problem. I run
AVG anti-virus on boot-up every day and anti-spyware programs twice
weekly, use a HOSTS file to prevent some pests from the outset,
disabled most scripting extensions from executing automatically, and
never open unexpected attachments or click on links that came in
suspicious or unexpected emails. I also just used Trend Micro's
"Housecall" online scan to check my system again and it came out
clean. Not that I'm a computer expert, but as a long-time user, I
learned how to survive in the jungle .

I'm out of ideas, and frustrated that I can't log on to Gmail. Does
anyone have any ideas what might be causing the problem and what I can
try to resolve it? Many thanks.