Danielle,

This entry in you HijackThis log indicates that you have at least 1 instance of Internet Explorer open when you ran HijackThis. HJT cannot fully perform all of its fixes while any instances of your web browser(s) are running, so you need to make sure all browsers are completely closed before having HJT fix anything. That said though, your latest log shows no signs of infection.

As for deleting the SearchUpgrader folder, you may have to go in to the folder and individually delete any files and sub-folders within the SearchUpgrader folder before you can delete the main folder itself. Try that, and if you find that you can't delete a certain file for some reason, tell us the name of that file.

--> Note- an odd quirk about Windows:

When you are viewing files/folders in Windows Explorer using the mode where Explorer displays the folder tree structure in a pane on the left and the contents of any selected folder in a pane on the right, it will sometimes not allow you to delete folders if you try to do it in the left-hand pane. If that's the case, go up one level in the left-hand folder tree so that the folder you want to delete is showing in the right-hand pane and try to delete it from there.

I never knew that! Thanks for this tidbit. Reading all the posts pays off in the end.

Yeah, it's a weird thing which I haven't been able to quite nail down yet. It doesn't happen with all/any folders displayed in the left Explorer pane, but I know I've experienced the exact behaviour in both Win 2000 and XP. I'm not sure if I've had it happen in Win 9x or ME though; I don't deal with those version much anymore.

Danielle, are you still having problems?

Hi there and I trust you are enjoying your good selves
Please take a look at my newest HJT log :
Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.0
Scan saved at 12:26:46 PM, on 12/25/2004
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
D:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
D:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\winlogon.exe
D:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
D:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
D:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
D:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
D:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
D:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
D:\Program Files\Panda Software\Panda Antivirus Platinum\Firewall\PavFires.exe
D:\Program Files\Panda Software\Panda Antivirus Platinum\pavsrv51.exe
D:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
D:\Program Files\Panda Software\Panda Antivirus Platinum\AVENGINE.EXE
D:\Program Files\Winamp3\winampa.exe
D:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\Mounter.exe
D:\Program Files\Panda Software\Panda Antivirus Platinum\APVXDWIN.EXE
D:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
D:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_06\bin\jusched.exe
D:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
F:\WinZip\WZQKPICK.EXE
D:\WINDOWS\system32\wscntfy.exe
D:\Program Files\Panda Software\Panda Antivirus Platinum\pavProxy.exe
D:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\unzipped\hijackthis\HijackThis.exe

O2 - BHO: Yahoo! Companion BHO - {02478D38-C3F9-4efb-9B51-7695ECA05670} - D:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn0\ycomp5_5_5_0.dll
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - D:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - D:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - D:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Companion\Installs\cpn0\ycomp5_5_5_0.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PCTVOICE] pctspk.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinampAgent] "D:\Program Files\Winamp3\winampa.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Mustek MDC 3000] D:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\Mounter.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SCANINICIO] "D:\Program Files\Panda Software\Panda Antivirus Platinum\Inicio.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [APVXDWIN] "D:\Program Files\Panda Software\Panda Antivirus Platinum\APVXDWIN.EXE" /s
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "D:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] D:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_06\bin\jusched.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] D:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - Global Startup: WinZip Quick Pick.lnk = F:\WinZip\WZQKPICK.EXE
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://D:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - D:\WINDOWS\System32\msjava.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - D:\WINDOWS\System32\msjava.dll
O9 - Extra button: Yahoo! Messenger - {E5D12C4E-7B4F-11D3-B5C9-0050045C3C96} - D:\PROGRA~1\YAHOO!\MESSEN~1\YPAGER.EXE (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Yahoo! Messenger - {E5D12C4E-7B4F-11D3-B5C9-0050045C3C96} - D:\PROGRA~1\YAHOO!\MESSEN~1\YPAGER.EXE (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: @D:\Program Files\Messenger\Msgslang.dll,-61144 - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - D:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @D:\Program Files\Messenger\Msgslang.dll,-61144 - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - D:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O16 - DPF: {0E5F0222-96B9-11D3-8997-00104BD12D94} (PCPitstop Utility) - http://www.pcpitstop.com/pcpitstop/PCPitStop.CAB
O16 - DPF: {30528230-99F7-4BB4-88D8-FA1D4F56A2AB} (YInstStarter Class) - http://us.dl1.yimg.com/download.yaho...st20040510.cab
O23 - Service: Panda Firewall Service - Unknown - D:\Program Files\Panda Software\Panda Antivirus Platinum\Firewall\PavFires.exe
O23 - Service: Panda anti-virus service - Unknown - D:\Program Files\Panda Software\Panda Antivirus Platinum\pavsrv51.exe

I managed to delete the Searchupgrader files too thanks for the advice.
Unfortuneately I cannot open Hotmail on IE or MSN at all still a blank page with done on the bottom left corner works fine with OPERA. I have cleared out all my Temp files and Interenet files too so I am really beginning to lose hope.
I was suggested to use Mozilla and forget about IE but that seems so defeatist to me and I am sure there is a solution to this Hotmail problem.
Thanks for all your time and attention and enjoy the festivities

Your log looks okay to me -- don't know what to do about your Hotmail & MSN, hopefully someone else will have some ideas.

Since you already have Opera, you don't need Mozilla -- unless you don't like Opera for some reason.

***Merry Christmas!***

Hi there,
I am sooooooo happy to say that I have hotmail on IE and MSN again.
I followed all the steps from the good people on this forum to clean out my computer but the hotmail problem wasn't solved until this afternoon so I think it was some isolated hotmail weirdness, I recieved this email from MSN support and followed it and voila hotmail is back in action so I have posted it for one and all :
I hope you have good fortune too :

By the way thanks to you guys at daniweb who really took the time and care to follow my thread, you rock

Danielle, please follow the steps below to address issues where MSN Hotmail does not properly load.
I. Check for firewall or filtering software interference
Look for an icon in the notification area on the right side of the taskbar (near the clock) for firewall or filtering software. If there is one, right click on it to check its properties.

If you are encountering difficulties signing in to MSN when you have the firewall enabled, we suggest that you contact the software manufacturer for assistance with configuring it to function with MSN.

Here are some of the most popular firewall programs and their contact information:

1. McAfee Personal Firewall - 1-900-454-6223
2. Norton Internet Security - 1-800-441-7234
3. Black Ice Defender - http://blackice.iss.net/customer_support.php
4. Zone Alarm - http://www.zonelabs.com/store/conten...jsp;jsessionid
II. Optimize Internet Explorer settings:

1. Click ‘Start’, ‘Run’ then type: ‘iexplore’ (without apostrophes)
2. Click ‘Tools’, ‘Internet Options’
3. Under General, click:

a. ‘Delete Cookies’, ‘OK’
b. ‘Delete Files’, ‘Delete all offline contents’, ‘OK’
c. ‘Clear History’, ‘Yes’
d. ‘Settings’, Adjust the amount to 300 MB, ‘OK’

4. Under Security, click ‘Internet’, ‘Default Level’, then ‘Apply’
5. Click ‘Privacy’, ‘Default’, then Apply
6. Under Content, click ‘AutoComplete’, ‘Clear Forms’, ‘Clear Passwords’ then ‘OK’
7. Under Connections, do the following: (skip these if you are using DSL)

a. Select the connection in the Dial-up and Virtual Private Network settings
b. Click ‘Settings’, uncheck all of the checkboxes, ‘OK’
c. Click ‘LAN Settings’, uncheck all of the checkboxes, ‘OK’

8. Under Advanced, click ‘Restore Default’, ‘Apply’, then ‘OK’
III. If the issue persists, please update Internet Explorer.

1. Connect to the Internet
2. Click ‘Start’, ‘Run’, then type: ‘iexplore’ (without apostrophes)
3. Download the updated version of Internet Explorer by going to http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en
4. Click ‘Download’

OPTION 2:

1. Connect to the Internet
2. Click ‘Start’, ‘Run’, then type: ‘iexplore’ (without apostrophes)
3. Go to http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/
4. Click on 'Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1' then click 'Download' button

The above information should help address your issue. If you have other concerns, please contact us again and we would be glad to assist you further.

Thank you for writing to MSN Internet Access Technical Support.