Turmoil -
I just wanted to add a quick note on the advice Kez posted regarding uninstalling AdAware before running SpyBot . . . IT IS NOT NECESSARY! Run the programs in Safe Mode - you should have no problem. If you activate the ActiveX and IE download blocker 'extra settings' for SpyBot, AdAware picks them up as "problems". If you choose to "ignore them" in AdAware - they no longer show up as current 'problem items' - but 'ignored items', which is what you want. Check out the threads for hijacking, hacked, start page, etc. and you will find even more great advice (especially posts by nihil). Good luck and pleasant hunting.

V.