Spyware Nightmare

Hello,

I really don't know where to turn and what is the best advice for removing spyware/adware from my computer. I have a brand new Dell Dimension 8300 with Windows XP. I've been trying to follow various instructions from all over the internet as to what's best to remove spyware. I've downloaded numerous programs, run them as instructed...and still have the problem.

Basically, the problems are: my homepage is always about:blank and I also get random popups. Also, I can't access my email via hotmail or earthlink (these sites act very strange). Also, when I start up my computer, it gives me error messages that certain .dll files are missing - which I think happened during one of the spyware removal exercises.

I will do whatever it takes to fully rid my computer of this but I need to know what removal programs I need to do it. I have Adaware SE, Spybot, Pest Patrol, Norton 2003, and a few others.

Any advice??? Thank you!

 

if you have tried adware ,spybot and they are up todate. i would personally go internet options and clean out there also the windows temp folder .

 

I've been cleaning all of that out too. I'm afraid that in the process of cleaning something, I destroyed my ability to logon to my email sites so I am a little wary about deleting things. I would love to overhaul everything. If I reinstall everything from scratch, will I still have the spyware on my computer?

 

here read this it should help solve the problem look for the ie about:blank problem and click on other utilities there is a walk through there http://www.favreau.info/misc/cache-about-blank/cache-about-blank.php let us know if it helped also it says to use cwshredder

 

READ ME FIRST: Basic Spyware Removal & Hijack This Tutorial. Important!

 

I am going to follow all these detailed instructions tonight and I'll let you know how it goes. Is it possible to completely uninstall IE and start fresh with something like Mozilla? Will that get rid of the problems? Also, any info on my inability to get my email from my infected home computer? It works fine at work but something happened that prevents access from home. Any ideas?

 

OK...I am going crazy! I did everything that I was instructed and ran numerous spyware removal programs, removed a number of elements and I still have the problem.

It seems that I will need to follow the Generic Solution for "Only the Best" but I have many questions before starting:

many of the files that were listed as bad files in PacMan's startup list are also integral parts of the computer...how do you know if the version you're looking at is infected or not. Some examples are: smss.exe, winlogon.exe, svchost.exe, explorer.exe. I don't want to touch these unless I know they are bad.

I am cerain that I have "Only the Best" because the popups say that at the top. I also have the about:blank start page EVERY TIME regardless of what I do. AND the more I run removal programs, the more strange error messages I receive at startup. I still can't access my email online either. And now I get warning messages constantly that something is attempting to change my home page.

Another question: I have 02 BHO files that aren't listed on TonyK's BHO list so I don't know what to do with them either. I also have ieol.exe and I found nothing about that either.

Thank you in advance for trying to help me out.