A friend told me that Crystal XP removed all traces of explorer from windows and puts its own thing in(I don't know what to call 'it') and that windows will actually run better and more reliably with it. Is this what is happening? From reading it just sounds like it changes the visual appearance and thats it. ?

Hi FilthyOtis!
 
You mean the windows-explorer (or internet explorer)?  
 
Eeeer, no, the Bricopacks (http://www.crystalxp.net/bricopack/en.htm) backup your systemfiles (like explorer.exe) and change the ressources in the files (exe/dll). You can install/uninstall it like all other software.
 
(install/uninstall Shellpacks in Safemode, press F8 during bootprocess)
 
Crystal XP is an old Shellpack, try Crystal Clear (new): http://www.crystalxp.net/bricopack [...] -clear.htm