Hotbar - need help getting rid of this pest! (Vanity)

Sorry for the vanity, but my head is about to explode trying to figure out how to get rid of hotbar, which mysteriously appeared on my computer.

I know Laura advertises some kind of spyware blocker, but I have no clue about any of this. Any help (here or pm me) would be GREATLY appreciated.

I have had a terrible problem with IE popups although I run Adaware and Spybot. It has been an education on removal methods. I found it helpful to run Hijack This (have to shut off System Restore)which gives you the option of scanning and making a log. Make a copy of the log from Notepad before deleting anything. Go to www.hijackthis.de/en and it will analyze your log after you paste it in a box there. It will point out the really bad stuff on your computer, which can be deleted when you run Hijack This again. BE CAREFUL it will question some programs that are legit. Don't delete anything unless you are positive you know what it is.

My son downloaded some musicshare program that put Startnow on my computer. I finally got rid of it, but I have IE popups I still can't get rid of. They popup and when I try to close them they go under the AOL header and I can't access the link. I think I will have to uninstall AOL in order to get rid of them.

Also, there is a free trial version of Spysweeper available for 30 days. It found the traces of Startnow and other spyware on my computer not detected by Adaware or Spybot.

Depending on the file, you will either have to delete through PROGRAM search or "Add/Remove Program" under "Control Panel"

That won't clean most spyware out of the registry. You need to run Spybot and/or Ad-Aware - or go in and start manually editing the registry.

so it's a computer problem not a monitor problem -

It could be the video card. You might try pulling it out and putting it back in to make sure it hasn't gotten loose. That probably isn't the problem, (a bad card would be more likely than a loose card) but it is an easy and cheap thing to try first.

And if the novice PC'er still has troubles with
new "unwanteds that slow down your CPU," the
best medicine is to invest $24 in a Virus/shield
program from McAfee or some other outfit. Haven't
had any problems with unwanted "attachees" for two
years. Well worth the money.

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