Why not set up a dual boot machine? You could install Linux on a separate partition and let GRUB handle the choice between which OS to boot to at startup. You could even set up two XP partitions, and use something like NeoSmart Technologies' Easy BCD as a boot manager. I use it in my Vista partition to allow me to boot to Linux when I want to, and it works pretty well, but you can also use it to choose between different Windows installations. That way, the partition with all of the suspect Active-X controls and such would be separated from the good Windows partition. The only problem with using Windows for both operating systems is that malware might "see" the other Windows partition and cause problems. Of course, it might also "see" a Linux partition, but unless it destroys data, it probably won't find anything useful to exploit there. Just my 2 cents, subject to inflation.

Be sure to make a copy of the tape if you do this. Also, be aware that some companies have a policy of not allowing tape recordings made without prior permission from management. Once, after I left a prior job, I found out from an employee there that management left a tape recorder inside the napkin holder in the vendateria to eavesdrop on conversations when there was some talk of a union organizing effort. An employee found it and returned it to HR. I would just have taken it and figured that it was mine to keep since it shouldn't have been there in the first place. I would have liked to see the face of the HR fellow when it was given to him and heard his explanation.