I receive this error message when booting up. I ignore it and everything seems to work, but I'd like to get this fixed. Any assistance with this error:

http://search.aol.com/aolcom/search?...C04FC9E26E%7D&

Obviously it has something to do with search.aol.com, and invocation of some sort of query, but where is this, how do I remove it and how did it get there? HELP! Thanks....

Press2Esc

NJ, are you an active AOL subscriber? Are you using an AOL "freebies" (e.g., AOL Search, AOL toolbar, AIM, etc)?

In any case I would recommend you run a thorough scan using your antispyware pgms and consider running HijackThis...

P2E

fredg

Hi,
It does sound like Spyware from AOL, or other.
Here is a listing of free programs, and step-by-step in running them.
If you think you already have Spyware/Advertising Ware in your computer, run these as follows:

AdAware at:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com
Download: AdAware_SE V 1.06

CWShredder at:
http://www.intermute.com/products/cwshredder.html
(CWShredder is intended only for removal of CoolWebSearch files; placed as spyware on the harddrive). It is not a "stand alone" scan, but needs to be run. Download the free version by clicking on "Download stand alone version of CW Shredder".

Both of the above programs run better and much faster when run in SafeMode.

To get into SafeMode:
Re-boot the computer, and immediately after starting up, Press and hold down, F8, at top of keypad.
When the options show on the screen, use the up and down arrow keys on the keyboard to select
"Safe Mode".
Press Enter

It's best to run the AdAware scan first; 3 times; then re-boot.
Then, run the AdAware scan again 3 times. Then, run CWShredder.
Re- Boot.
Reason for running so many times:
Some of these trojans' files can be deleted the first time; leaving some others; but on re-boot, they re-write the files that were deleted.
Running multiple times deletes most of it the first
time.

If you wish to have a great program, after you clean out Spyware/Advertising Ware:
This program stops this stuff from getting into the computer in the first place, by placing URL's in the browser, stopping them instantly. One of the Very Best free programs anyone can download!

SpyWare Blaster 3.4

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html

Free online scan at:
http://www.trendmicro.com/spyware-scan/

Also, if you wish to try stopping it immediately, go to Start/Run, and type in MSCONFIG, then click on OK.
In that window, at the top right, click on the StartUp tab. Then, on the left scroll down and look at all the programs starting up when you boot up the computer.
You can left click on anything to remove the checkmark, then click on Apply, OK, and reboot.
If you uncheck something you need, you can always go back and re-check it.
Look for something like, "search", possibly "aol", depending on if you use it or not.