Replying to Windows XP Re-installation problem

I know you faggits will all say get a mac, blah blah, well I may in the next few months for college but if you could help me that would be great.

So recently I acquired a virus, silly me, and I attempted to re-install XP to get rid of the virus and it did. BUT, here is the problem. Now I am not able to open Internet explorer, another thing I really shouldn't care about, but in order to download many programs that is needed. I do use fire fox for haters. I am not sure if anyone has encountered this problem and has any advice. I am having the hardest time getting shit to download. If you have advice that would be great. Or even a way to contact Microsoft, because they clearly are against contacting and referring to websites, but because i don't have IE i cant go to some of them to download the unnecessary things.

HELP PLEASE!!!!