On Start Up Programs Not Responding

Hi, I have had problems with my main login account since installing CS2 last Thursday. May have nothing to do with it though. The problem is when I start/restart, first of all, the spinning ball is on the blue start up screen for ages (longer than it had been) - no icons for 1.5 - 2 mins. When the screen stops loading the internet connects automatically (usually needs me to do it manually) but programs like Safari, Mail, iCal, print utility, disk utility, system prefs, do not respond. Others such as CS2, Word, iTunes,Font Book, Internet Explorer, MSM mesenger all work and connect fine. I can then LOG OUT of my main user window, then LOG IN again straight away and everything is hunky dory again!

I'm on an eMac (1.25GHz/40GB HD with 6GB free/768MB RAM) with OSX 10.3.9 installed. Have repaired permissions (taking out the iTunes pkges from Library/Receipts first and the re-installing) from my Mac's system plus using TinkerTool System and AppleJack. I have looked for corrupt prefs but they seem ok too. Have also downloaded and re-installed 10.3.9 Combo, but the problem remains. I'm contemplating upgrading to Tiger but am worried this prob might follow!!

Any suggestions? Have worked with Macs for years now so am used to troubleshooting but am not confident in scriting or anything too complicated like reprogramming stuff, so go gentle on your replies... if I get any! Thanks in anticipation. Dugg.

well, it sounds like you should do a re-install on that one.
there are a couple of options while installing/upgrading .... i always go for a 'clean install', meaning that it wipes everything off and you get a fresh system ...
you could also do an 'archive and install' which saves your user data and just freshly installs the system part ..... i can't recommend the upgrade part, since your system has some problems ....

tiger will be good for your system, i disabled features that i really don't need, just to increase performance a little ..... but thats just me (dashboard for example is disabled)

other than that i wouldn't know what to do .... what i do know is, that a clean install once a year (or every 2 years) can't hurt anything - make sure you backup your data

good luck

Appreciate your comments kaskudoo. Will try an install rather than an upgrade then - makes sense.
Cheers, Dugg