How do I Get XP to Load completely?

After a windows update prior to the very last one, I noticed that the
dialogue below my user icon and names, basically the unread e-mail notices
did not appear.

I have to shut off my computer by holding the computer start button in as
clicking with my mouse does not do anything. Sometimes the dialoque appears
after 1 restart sometimes it takes 3. Once the dialogue box reappears it
works fine.

Any ideas on how to fix this?