[Holly_P]

When I go in and chage it back to FreeRepublic [what else?], my preferred download lasts only until the next time I load the browser when I am returned to this other homepage which is the new default

Same thing here. My home page goes to "about blank" whatever that is. Every time I reboot I have to change it back. Would appreciate a solution to this problem.

[Tall_Texan]

My home page goes to "about blank" whatever that is. Every time I reboot I have to change it back. Would appreciate a solution to this problem.

That's my problem too although I don't think I have the same problem that TC has (although I use the pop-up blocker with the Google toolbar (free) and it knocks out practically every pop-up.

My homepage goes to one of two search engines - one os called "Lucky Search" and I forget the other one (with a green background). You can go under "Tools" then "Internet Options" to re-enter the homepage you desire.

I've notice that sometimes it keeps on my homepage, even after shut down, and sometimes it doesn't. I don't know what the "triggering" mechanism is but I'm going to start paying attention to when I visit Drudge and see if there's a pattern.

If you find a fix, let me know. If I find one, I'll let you know.

[Tall_Texan]

Update: I just downloaded Spybot S&D and its updates, ran it and removed some stuff that *might* have been the cause. Then I downloaded updates to Zone Alarm (which I had already), then rebooted. My first attempt to access IE brought me to my preferred homepage (FoxNews.com). Since the problem before was intermittent, I'll need a few days to determine if this fixed the problem or not. By Friday, I should know.

There were a couple of suspects with names like EZSearch.com, Gator.com and one other I don't recall, plus a lot of cookies that were trojans for downloading info.