All programs on my Mac are opening simultaneously

Question

This is very bizarre but is happening now very often. When I open the Applications folder and try to launch a single program; every program installed instantaneously launches. My dock is the only thing visible during the maelstrom and it has a tiny hundred icon bouncing up and down until the opening ends. It then takes me 5 minutes to close all the programs.
All this started as a result of a bad running Office Mac 2008 which I uninstalled and then reinstalled. The reinstall did not work. When I say this I mean that Word, and Excel both had fatal errors that continued on a loop until I force quit and uninstalled them again.
If anyone knows how to fix this please let me know.

Answer 1

HI,
When I open the Applications folder and try to launch a single program
Are you not opening the applications from the Dock for a reason???
Boot from your install disc, run Disk Utility to Verify and if necessary Repair any errors on the startup disk.
Insert your install disk and Restart, holding down the "C" key until grey Apple appears.
Go to Installer menu and launch Disk Utility.
Select your HDD (manufacturer ID) in the left panel.
Select First Aid in the Main panel.
*(Check S.M.A.R.T Status of HDD at the bottom of right panel. It should say: Verified)*
Click Repair Disk on the bottom right.
If DU reports disk does not need repairs quit DU and restart.
If DU reports errors Repair again and again until DU reports disk is repaired.
When you are finished with DU, from the Menu Bar, select Utilities/Startup Manager.
Select your start up disk and click Restart
While you have the Disk Utility window open, look at the bottom of the window. Where you see Capacity and Available. *Make sure there is always 10% to 15% free disk space*
If you cannot boot from your install disc, try booting in Safe Mode
Carolyn