Can't reach malware cleaning sw I downloaded

(Sorry if this post seems terse, but I just spent my lunch hour writing an eloquent one that disappeared into the void when I tried to post it & it claimed I wasn't logged in anymore--probably a cookie problem.)

I'm fighting malware--tracking popups--on XP.

I printed all your "read me first dammit" pages & linked pages, and actually RTFM'd.

I downloaded all the software you list for scanning, etc. to my desktop.

When I boot in safe mode, that username is not an option. I log in as admin, and I cannot see the software on the other username's desktop.

--Do I have to download it all again to the Admin desktop?
--Can I "see" it somehow without downloading it all again?

I also tightened up a lot of my explorer settings for privacy & security thinking that could prevent these popups (to no avail), so now my system is very hard to work with.

--What should I have my Internet--Tools settings set to for the best balance of security & functionality during the cleanup as well as before-and-afterward, in your esteemed opinion?

Muchas gracias,
ZenPup

 

Another quick question before I plunge in:

I downloaded the latest version of Sun Java because it told me to. I didn't see that I had any previous versions (since I ain't no programmer), but for all I know, it's built-in somewhere.

Do I need to actually install it? Not quite sure I understand where &when & how to do that, if even necessary.

 

See it now--more recognizable by the icon than the initialism! Tx! Will take care of it.