hmm, I wonder if you actually formatted the wrong partition then did a repair install!

No, I only have 1 partition on my HDD. And at no time did I do a repair install. I know for a fact that it is the correct partition formatted, as well as a new isntallation of XP. My personal files are no longer present in my documents, nor are any previous programs and their correspinding program files located in the explorer view. The things that are being somehowe retrieved by the programs are the serial #'s (for all programs, not just the op sys) as well as the settings and preferences upon reinstallation.