OTF Fonts problems

PROBLEM: 

I cannot either view (double-click) or install any ".OTF" font file on my WinXP SP3, fully patched.  This laptop is a Latitude D600 with Display driver ATI Mobility Radeon 9000.  Current driver for this card is the latest (8.20) as provided by Dell for this model laptop.

SIMILAR PROBLEM:

This problem is extensively documented here: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/itproxpsp/thread/50d5d1b5-8e49-46b1-8487-cf41aee2998b

 FACTS: 
 
- I am localAdmin of the box with full access to all folders 
- Fontview correctly displays all other types of fonts (TTF, FON) when double-clicking them 
- I can install TTF fonts without any problems 
- FileType Extensions for OTF correctly points to "OpenType Font file" with shell command "open" correctly pointing to "c:\windows\system32\fontview.exe %1" 
- I DID delete the OTF file type and re-created it by associated it again with "OpenType Font file" 
- A right-click on an OTF file correctly displays "open" and "print" as the first two options for this type of object 
- The PATH variable both for USER (me) and SYSTEM correctly has entries for c:\windows;c:\windows\system32;%systemroot%;%systemroot%\system32 
- If a copy of anyone of these OTF files is sent to my other computer (also XP SP3), font install without any problem - Hence font files are not corrupted. 
- Nothing listed in event logs following error messages

 
ERRORS MESSAGES: 
 
- If trying to install ANY OTF font by dragging into FONT folder or else using FONT icon in control panel I get: "Unable to install the NameOfTheFont (OpenType) font. The font file may be damaged. Check with you font vendor about obtaining a new file" 

 - If I double-click on any OTF file, I get: "The requested file Path\Name.otf was not a valid font file."

 
I will GREATLY appreciate any help I can get. 
 
Thanks in advance.