Member Avatar for Amateur Hour

Everytime I reboot my computer and click the internet explorer button, my home page opens to adfreesearch.com. I go to internet options and change it back to yahoo.com but everytime I reboot it reverts back. Is there a way I can fix this? Thanks.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by drummerboy

Dani AI

Generated

This behavior is a classic “homepage hijacker”: the browser homepage gets reset at boot because a program or registry entry runs on startup and overwrites your setting. The suggestions from , and others to run anti‑spyware scanners are correct — use them first — but also follow the checklist below to find and stop whatever’s doing the reset, and to repair IE so it stays fixed.

Start safely and back up

  • Boot Windows into Safe Mode (F8 at startup) and run the scanners so the remover can work without the hijacker running.
  • Back up the relevant registry key before editing:
    reg export "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main" startpage-backup.reg

    Inspect and fix the homepage value

  • Check what IE is currently storing for the start page:
    reg query "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main" /v "Start Page"
  • To set your chosen URL (replace the example URL with the one you want):
    reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main" /v "Start Page" /t REG_SZ /d "http://your-homepage.example/" /f

    Look for the thing that keeps changing it

  • Check startup keys and RunOnce entries:
    reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run"
reg query "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run"
  • Check scheduled tasks and services that might run at boot:
    schtasks /query /fo LIST /v
  • View the hosts file for redirects:
    type %windir%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts
  • Start IE without add‑ons to see if it still changes:
    iexplore -extoff

    Other practical steps

  • Use msconfig to disable unknown startup items, and examine Services (services.msc) for suspicious entries. If the change is profile‑specific, create a new Windows user and test there. If the homepage still reverts after cleaning, something persistent (a startup service, scheduled task or hidden process) is responsible — save a diagnostic log (as recommended earlier) and post that log for targeted analysis. Always keep backups and, if unsure about registry edits or removing services, seek hands‑on help; a clean OS reinstall is a reliable last resort.

Recommended Answers

All 11 Replies

Member Avatar for Jra2003

Sounds like you have some spyware. Download Ad-aware, scan the comp and remove them.

The software is at

Member Avatar for Lander

I'd recommend getting spyware search and destroy also. Within that there's options to immunise IE against lots of spyware and to prevent spyware from changing the homepage.

Member Avatar for rasputinj

Normally try to run 2 different spyware programs spybot( I think that is the name out of Germany) and adaware. the 2 of them will clean things up.

Member Avatar for caperjack

Hello

You Have a CoolWebSearch Infection.

Please Download CoolWebShredder, from , Extract it & run the program. Click the Next Button & let it scan. Make sure you let it fix all CWS Remnants.

Member Avatar for caperjack

Then do This , get Spybot S&D to clear out most of the spyware.

Short tutorial and download link here:

Fix everything SpybotSD labels in red.

Then after reboot:
Download 'Hijack This!'.
Unzip to a permanent folder, doubleclick HijackThis.exe, and hit "Scan".

When the scan is finished, the "Scan" button will change into a "Save Log" button.
Press that, save the log, load it in Notepad, and copy its contents here. Most of what it lists will be harmless or even essential, don't fix anything yet.
then post the log here

Member Avatar for Lander

caperjack is a hypergenius

Member Avatar for Zoogies

Yeah, I'd say Spybot S&D or adaware, or maybe both...

Member Avatar for drummerboy

Sounds like you have some spyware. Download Ad-aware, scan the comp and remove them.

The software is at

id pay close attention to caperjack hes a genius and wont steer you wrong. all hail to caperjack

Member Avatar for caperjack

id pay close attention to caperjack hes a genius and wont steer you wrong. all hail to caperjack

The words Caperjack and Genius ,don't belong in the same sentence !

Member Avatar for caperjack

Yeah, I'd say Spybot S&D or adaware, or maybe both...

these two programs alone will not remove a CoolWebSearch Infection,you will need to run CWShredder,and then Spybot and Ad-Aware .

commented: this chap has helped lots of people. and is an A1 bloke +6
Member Avatar for drummerboy

The words Caperjack and Genius ,don't be;ong in the same sentence !

oh dont be modest mr caperjack sir. the amount of peeps you,ve helped with IE (including myself) cant be counted. theres alot of people who owe mr caperjack alot ;)
All hail to caperjack!!!!!!!

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