S a S it's amazing how much I learn just trying to figure out solutions to problems remotely. If it can help, great!
Now, with 43 processes it does seem possible that your PC is playing host to programs that you didn't invite.
For example, here is the list of the 33 processes running now on the Sony laptop (Picturebook) beside me with XP Pro. It's on a LAN and that's all.
Basic 19 processes: ati2evxx.exe and atiptaxx.exe for the screen, csrss.exe, explorer.exe, lsacc.exe, ltmmsg.exe, pcfmgr.exe, services.exe, smss.exe, spoolsv.exe, svchost.exe (five times), system, system idle process.exe, taskmgr.exe and winlogon.exe. (Taskmgr.exe is, of course, the process for task Manager itself and isn't running unless Task Manager is open).
For McAfee 3 Processes; For ZoneAlarm 4 Processes; For WiFi and Bluetooth 2 Processes and for Sony specials (Camera, jogdial etc) there are 5 Processes.
If you can't justify any processes, write down the name of the file(s) that is(are) running and go to Windows explorer and search. When you find their location you will either accept that they are OK or not. Sometimes the name of a file doesn't give any indication of what its function is.
I personally disable any automatic update processes for Windows, McAfee and Zonealarm etc because I wan't to decide when these things take place. So in my list you won't see rulaunch.exe, waulaunch.exe etc.
I hope this has given you something to work on; good luck.