Migration to XP pro and Simulators, Help!

I'm slowly moving everything to XP Pro SP-1, due to MS-es non-support
of Win98. I've upgraded still to all available patches since this
late [beta], OS was released.

The first problems I've discovered with using sim apps on it was that
IL-2 absolutely would not run. Even with everything else shut down.
Well, it would run, but very very slow. I couldn't even navigate
options within it, without much frustration, because mouse pointing
was so unresponsive! Totally unusable and unacceptable performance
of IL-2. Even after much tweaking of XP. I don't see any issues
concerning this on IL-2's website. Has anyone else encountered this
specific problem or other sims not working on XP SP-1?

Can you run MS latest or FS2002 ok? Will it run my old favorite Fly!
? I'm afraid I'd go nuts with the frustration of trying!

My system has:
2.4G AMD processor, runs at 2.1
Gigabyte GA-7VAXP Mboard w/ Via KT400/AGP8x/4x,
FSB 333/266/200 Socket A,
512MB ram, 3 DDR Dimm
ATI Radeon 64MB 8500LE
Award BIOS flashed 9-3-2003

I run a static swap file on a third and "fastest" hd set at 1000MB.
My fsb is running at 333Mhz.

I've got to say I am getting more than a little frustrated and angry
with MS products and spending inordinate amounts of time trying to
get it, and apps to run as they should and my next migration is going
to be to Lindows in the very near future, as they supposedly have
software that will run all MS apps within that OS. I mean
purchaseable options to do that, anyway.

I've had several other problems, including a very trying experience
at trying to install Java on XP, [it took several hours over several
days to accomplish]. Exhausting attempts at installing Norton 2004,
also took several hours over several days, only to create such
eventual problems only a month later as total corruption of itself
after installing 12-23-2003 program updates, [XP hangs at shutdown
and had an inability to read certain Norton apps' memory], which
prevented it from doing so. It led to a better AV solution in Nod32
however, after NO solution from Symantec support, nor refund at this
point. I could go on and on, but I have a job, I have to eat, I just
don't have time to wrangle with MS beta OS'es and energy robbing
Symantec! What do the rest of you do???

Thanks,
JRC