OK... I would not consider myself a computer beginer, however I have followed many steps and gone through several of my own ideas to remove the annoyance that is hotsearchbar... Now there are different aspects of this ad-ware... There is a bar that will be put up with your links and address bar and what not HOWEVER my problem is different then this... it seems that with that bar, which I have removed, comes links for certain words... Varying from ANAL, SEX, TEEN, NEWS, CAT, TRAVEL, DATE , etc. Wherever these letters are together whether or not it is that word in particular (ex. Updated would highlight just the word date within the word)... It is then highlighted a green link and linked to, as it says at the bottom the link a "sponsored link" However within the porperties it will give the link of something like this (http://www.hotsearchbar.com/cgi/v30//ezlclk.fcgi?id=37)... now I went to the trouble to make a picture just to show you exactly what I mean... This is right off www.google.ca within my first search results, when I reload the website it will go away however first time you go on the site or when you come back it will be there again... THROUGH ALL OF THIS LONG SPEECH, IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED IF SOMEONE COULD HELP AS I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS COMPUTER FOR 3 WEEKS AND I'VE ALREADY GONE AND TRASHED IT UP VERY QUICKLY... Thanks

- ALex -

PS. Here is the picture I was speaking of that shows what I was rambling on about...
http://storage.msn.com/s1pZ8pl_R1n1z...69794994991992

Hi, Alex,
You definitely, without a doubt, have Spyware Programs in your computer.

If you will follow these steps; then after you clean out the system, get the free Spyware Blaster, it will stop these spyware programs.

Here are steps:

If you think you already have Spyware/Advertising Ware in your computer, run these as follows:
Spyware/Advertising ware removal

http://www.security-related.com/download2.htm
Download: SpyBot Search & Destroy; 1.3

AdAware at:
www.lavasoftusa.com
Download: AdAware_SE

Both the above programs run better and much faster when run in SafeMode.
It's best to run the AdAware scan first; 3 times; then re-boot.
Then, run the AdAware scan again 3 times; then run the SpyBot.
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:
SpyWare Blaster 3.2
Great, free, program that STOPS spyware, trojans, home page hijacks, etc, BEFORE they get into your computer. Check it out at CNET at link:

http://www.download.com/SpywareBlast...ml?tag=lst-0-2

Two Tips:
If you notice the little green computer lights that show your dial-up connection to the internet staying on when they shouldn't be, located on the bottom right of the system tray, disconnect immediately and run AdAware. These lights staying on means that some URL is sending or receiving spyware/advertising ware to or from your computer, most of the time.

Other Tip: After being on the net, if you have visited any sites you don't really trust, then run AdAware BEFORE you shut down or re-start the computer. This will delete any Spyware easier, before the computer can configure it, set it up, spread it throughout the Registry, and make it more difficult to remove after re-booting.

If the above doesn't work, then try editing the Registry.
First, back up your Registry. The simplest way to do it is to shut down the computer, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on. It will automatically back up the Registry when booting up.

BE CAREFUL when deleting things from the Registry; your computer might not re-boot.
When the computer boots up, the Registry tells it what programs to run; telling it to run the SpyWare/Advertising programs first, if in the computer.
Here are steps for deleting things that startup when you boot up the computer:

Go to Start/Run. Type in "regedit" without quotes, then click on OK.
At the top, Click on "Edit", then "Find".
In the space Find What: type in what you want to find. (in this case, RUN).
Then, put a check mark by "Match whole string only". This will keep the search from stopping at every word it finds, like the word "run", etc.
Then click "Find Next". It will search the registry for the first entry you typed in.
It will "open" a folder on the left hand side of the screen, showing what is in the folder on the right hand side. If you know that an entry on the right hand side is something you no longer have, or has just been added with a name you don't know, then right click on it, then left click "delete", tell it Yes or OK to remove it.
Then, press F3 on the top of the keypad to continue the search.
When finished, at the top, click on File, Exit.

Any StartUp programs, that start when the computer boots up will be listed in folders on the left hand side of the screen with names like:
RUN, RUNSERVICES, RUNONCE, RUN-, etc.
Click on the next folder down with the name RUN in it, to look at its startups on the right hand side.

You can also search for other words, rather than RUN, such as Hotsearchbar; or whatever; and delete values on the right hand side associated with it.

If the spyware/advertising program has re-set your home page; you will have to type in the home page you want.; click on Apply, and OK.

Best wishes, and good luck,
fredg
PS; The MSN search bar is notorious for being in the RUN part of the Registry; and you can pick it up from various websites.
With the Spyware Blaster program, you can set this site in your Restricted sites.

Try Spy Sweeper available at www.spysweeper.com. Although software will help, there are several other things that need to be done that are just as important as the software removal program itself.

For Spyware protection and general help cleaning up the computer and registry I recommend,

The following files, as I have found 1 or even 2 is not always enough as 1 may find

Something the others do not.

Spyware
Microsoft New SPyware program-Formerly Giant spyware, they bought it out.
Spysweeper
Spybot search and destroy
Adware SE
Aluria's Spyware Eliminator
Spyhunter
&
Spyware Blaster, this one prevents certain items, before they are even installed, it does

Not clean.

I would suggest at the very least 3 or more of the above programs.

Registry and Fix and Repair programs
Fix it Utilities 5 this one has an excellent Scandisk, better than the one with your OS
Advanced System Optimizer
Ace Utilities
System Mechanic 5

Any 2 or more of these.

And download the Google toolbar with built in pop up stopper for your browser is good.

And a good solid Anti Virus Program or 2, updated weekly.

A good defragging Program or 2
Diskeeper Lite
Perfect Disk.

Also run from Start/run type in chkdsk then let that run then type in chkdsk /f to help fix

WinXP errors.

Also use the below website, that tests and reviews some for the best programs out for many

Different things, they give you side by side comparisons and rate each one in many

Categories.
http://www.toptenreviews.com/ :rolleyes: