ok here goes, out of nowhere i have a new home page that i didnt select and i have a popup ad that causes my screen to freeze, and it kicks me off the internet. the popup is a porn site i know, the icon is of a woman and all it says is free xxx. i've tried to delete this icon by right clicking the mouse, it says i need to go to add/remove programs to completely delete it but when i go there i dont know what this program is named, all it says is freexxx and i dont see anything there similar to that. i just recently downloaded the anti-spy toolbar from yahoo, and i ran a scan earlier and it showed several things that they recommended me to remove, so i did. but it wasnt this porn site, i've tried to go and set a new home page, but when i click back on it to see if it worked(internet options)it automactically goes back to the one that's on there now, which i didnt choose, i just assume that this is related. hopefully this will ring some bells with someone, and you'll have some advice on how to help me get this porn crap off my system. it pops up everytime i get on the internet, normally several times, i cant figure it out. remember im a novice when it comes to these things, so any advice you can give me i greatly appreciate. ohh i have windows xp, on a compaq 7500. hopefully this helps.

might i recommend a product: Ad-Aware Personal from www.lavasoft.com, i have found this software to be particuarly useful, also installing a firewall may help you, www.zonelabs.com and if it comes up with a message asking wether to allow a programme u dont regognise then u can disallow it, also a hijack this log would be particuarly helpful

danniboy and dlh, thank you so much for the advice, here's my problem, lol. i took your advice, went to lavasoft to download the ad aware personal, but this popup that i've told you about comes on before it finishes downloading, so i've tried several times and i get kicked of the internet everytime and it says, download interrupted failed to finish or whatever. so......i went out today and bought a anti-virus program, tryed to install it several, several times and i cant get it to work either, so........please help me, lol. this is driving me crazy i cant figure out what to do next, seems i've tried so many things and nothing succeeds. thx again for the help, hopefully you'll know something else i can try. i appreciate your time, ty. mona.

You need to download those programs on another computer and copy them to disk and install and run on your computer

yes caper jack that is a good suggestion but i cant help thinking that; like with the antivirus, the install may fail or the popup program wether it be a virus or annoying adware may bypass the software as it is present wen installing, so i myself would save all important work on the computer and re-install windows xp or wotever OS your on and once youve done that, install the antivirus and ad aware personal and mabe if u like a firewall for unbeatable protection so it wont happen again.
having said this caperjacks suggestion may work dispite the adware (or wotever else it may be) being presnt at the time of install.

let us kno how it all goes,

all the best,
Danniboy.

danniboy and dlh, thank you so much for the advice, here's my problem, lol. i took your advice, went to lavasoft to download the ad aware personal, but this popup that i've told you about comes on before it finishes downloading, so i've tried several times and i get kicked of the internet everytime and it says, download interrupted failed to finish or whatever. so......i went out today and bought a anti-virus program, tryed to install it several, several times and i cant get it to work either, so........please help me, lol. this is driving me crazy i cant figure out what to do next, seems i've tried so many things and nothing succeeds. thx again for the help, hopefully you'll know something else i can try. i appreciate your time, ty. mona.

Does this mean you were on the net without antivirus protection? :eek:

I don't know what program you purchased, but most will allow you to boot from the CD to do a scan; check and see if yours will do that.

If you can't install any programs that will help, or that will allow us to see what you have in order to assist you, Danniboy may be right, you may need to reinstall Windows. :(

You may wish to have a look at this thread for some protection advice:
http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/thread16365.html

One more thought, have you tried System Restore yet? That may help enough to at least let you install what you need to fix whatever is wrong.

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