Windows search results box appears repeatedly & google search page appears in 'inbox'

I am running Win xp sp2 with AVG and ZA free editions. I use Firefox as my browser. The hard drive is 160gb with 2.85gh pentium 4 and 512 Mb of installed memory. I run Ad aware, CCleaner, Easy Cleaner, SB S&D, Spyware Blaster, ewido anti-malware and Scan defrag regularly & keep them updated.

The problem is that the Windows 'search results' box (asking me what i want to search for - pictures, documents, files etc) pops up repeatedly even though i have not initiated a search. The results boxes appear on top of whatever i am doing so that i have to click onto my internet page to make it active again. In say half a minute 30 or 40 search results boxes can appear. I close them down by 'close group' but they just reappear again. The problem is intermitant, but occurs at least once a day. Restarting helps for a short period of time, but the problem always comes back.

I'm not sure if this is linked, but also my inbox instead of showing a list of my emails sometimes changes to the 'google search page'. Again i need to restart the pc to get my inbox back to how it should be.

This problem started around the time that i downloaded a 'google update' a week or so ago. Not sure if this is just coincidence. I tried a system restore to a point before the download, but the problem remained.

Yesterday i went through all the instructions on the 'read and run me first before asking for support', but the problem remains, although my system seems to be clean. I attach HJT and BitDefender logs & belarc details of my software in case the problem is the result of a conflict following an update.

I would be grateful for any suggestions as to how this problem could be resolved - it's driving me mad - have spent ages trying to sort it out. Thank you

 

Re: Windows search results box appears repeatedly & google search page appears in 'in

Thanks Chas, will repost in 'software'. Will remove the HJT entries as suggested. The Panda active scan didn't find anything and there wasn't a log.
Thanks