Hi All

Apologies in advance for missing the point of any previous posts, and for providing too much/little information.

I appear to be infected with some sort of spyware. Google is my default search page, and when I use it to conduct a search, on clicking on the links to my search results, I am redirected to other search sites.

I am running Windows XP, SP2 and since the problem has begun, SP3. I have been using Norton Internet Security for the last 3 years, and currently have installed the 2007 version, and have installed all the latest updates. I am also using the latest version of Ad Aware SE, and have installed the latest updates.

As you would probably expect, Norton scanning does not produce any results.

The Ad Aware 'Smart System Scan' yields the usual results - finding and removing between 10 and 30 tracking cookies per weekly scan.

The 'Full System Scan' is more unusual. It gets to a certain point in my registry - specifically, a Sinead O'Connor folder in the My Music section, and freezes. The only way to proceed is to cancel the scan, which the PC allows me to do, but I then lose the option of removing the 30-odd high risk files that Ad Aware has already identified.

I have since tried to delete the folder via Windows Explorer, but even when hovering over the folder with the cursor of my mouse, I get the message, "Windows Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close". I have also tried to delete the file via Windows Media Player, but got the similar message, "Windows Media Player has encountered a problem and needs to close".

Can anyone advise me how to remove this file? In my admittedly inexperienced logic, I believe that should I be able to remove the folder from my music file, I may then be able to use Ad Aware in it's full capacity to remove the spyware that I mentioned in the second paragraph.

I would be very grateful of any advice. Many thanks.

H again. Could someone please point me in the right direction?

I hope people aren't ignoring me because they think I haven't read any other posts about this problem before posting my own, because I have. I've read the section on "Ad-aware Freezing Issue", which would appear to apply, but I don't think it does, as in my case I think I know exactly where my problem file is, and just need to know how to delete it.

I maybe completely wrong on this matter, so would really appreciate some help. Both me and my wife us this PC for business, and it's really slowing us down.

Thank you.

I have an impression of what your problem might be. Post a hijackthis log. Also, post the output of http://www.gmer.net/gmer.zip. (if you have any problems with gmer, uncheck "services" "registry" and "files" and run a new scan)