I am using XP pro with Office 2003. Even when office is not on I can't copy
and paste text. If for example, I highlight a url when I paste it in
somewhere else just the letter 'a' appears.

If I start up MS Word and check the clipboard there is just the letter 'a'
in there and I can't delete it until I add more text to the clipboard, then I
can delete the letter 'a' and add the url I wanted.