Google has a wealth of info
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=remove+hotbar
The way I did it was this. (In XP) Open IE, click on 'tools', scroll down to 'manage add-ons', find the 'hotbar' add-on and disable it. Write down the specific file name listed there, do a search for it, delete it.
I tried 'Spy Sweeper', 'Adaware 6' and 'Spybot' none could find it.
Article on clean install. I don't know why so many here are opposed to this approach. It is like a spring cleaning of the house and garage.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/expert/honeycutt_02october07.mspx
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.
bump
Okay, follow-on question. What should I do to keep this pest from getting onto my other computers?
Thank you for all your help. I really appreciate it.