I know it ain't got a cold - so what IS wrong?

OK, I USED to think that I was pretty decent in fixing computers until the last couple of years and all this malware comes along and blows that little ego trip.
My browser search engine has been compromised and I need y'alls help. By the way, B4 I start - you guys/gals do one heck of a job. Thanks from all of us wanna-be geeks for what you do. You actually keep computers from reaching the stage of the dinosaur in many American homes.
OK, the sucking up is over - heres the problem. Whenever I type in a subject to search for I get the words and a bunch of % signs. I have cleaned this machine with 20 different spyware cleaners and it is relatively free of insects I think anyway - (BIG emphasis on the word 'think' - that should show ya how good I think I am versus how good I actually am - hahahahahahahaha)
I type in this - find Santa Claus - and I get back this in the address window - http:///? find santa claus and the page itself displays the "The page cannot be displayed" message. By seeing the '%20' I am guessing that I have removed some but not all of the redirection that was there in the first place. So - how do I get rid of the rest of it? Please work your magic for me on this problem and let me know what I need to do to exorcise this demon. Many thanks.
Perplexed in Texas