Topman - re the homepage problems you described over on the 'Broadband Suppliers' thread:

It might not be as easy as Seymour C suggests, as I think mysearchnow is a variant of the 'coolwebsearch' hijacker software which resets your default home page and/or search entries. I had to deal with a case of this last summer and it was a pain to sort out. If you type in mysearchnow and spyware (or hijack) into Google you'll find various entries which should point you in the right direction. There's a program called 'HijackThis', if I remember correctly, that produces a diagnostic log to help with the clear up. (I didn't use it, but I've heard it's legit.) If you end up having to edit the registry to delete or change various entries like search-URLs you'll probably (but not always) also have to find and delete a registry 'RUN' entry that points to a file placed somewhere on the computer, which will also need to be deleted. Otherwise rebooting your PC will cause that file to be executed, which will, in turn, automatically repopulate the registry with all the entries that you've just removed. Running Lavasoft's Ad-Aware (available by free download, or sometimes on PC magazines' front-mounted CDs) will point you to any other unwanted spyware that might have found its way on to your machine.

I see from the March PCW magazine (p68) that Symantec's 'Norton Systemworks' has now begun to expand its antivirus software to encompass key-logging and spyware programs - an area in which it had previously been weak. Looks like Norton's still lagging in this area though, so I'd recommend trying other progs like Ad-aware until they get their act together.

Ah, thought it was too simple to be true!

StonyB/Topman,

Just to add a little info to StonyB's excellent post.

I am not sure if mysearchnow is an affiliate of coolwebsearch however I have dealt with a few cases of coolwebsearch and I can confirm that it is a real pain. Not many PC users are yet aware of the problems these hijacks can cause as they haven't been well publicised.

However the following sites may help :-

http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?

http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html

The first is a forum dedicated top this sort of problem and the second is a related site with a lot of info about cool web search.

There are 2 tools available which can be used to assist, they are called cwshredder.exe and Hijackthis.exe (as mentioned by StonyB). I do not recommend using the Hijackthis.exe program unless you have read the information in the spy ware forum above and you are happy with making registry changes.

I also agree with StonyB about Adaware which I use daily but I also use 'Spyware Search and Destroy' as I find that often one program misses the spyware but the other finds it, I also run it daily, both of these should be checked for updated frequently. In addition I also use Windows Washer V5 each day to clear junk (not spyware from my PC).

Hope this helps a little.

Spaceman - thanks for all the additional info, and pleased to see that mysearchnow might not be related to coolwebsearch, so it might not be quite so difficult to sort out. I hadn't checked-out the spywareinfo site since last year, where the cwschronicles link that you mentioned shows just how devious cws has become. @#%%#$$!!!

Seem to have lost my Windows explorer icon on desktop and toolbar of my laptop?? not sure how to retrieve it or re-set it. Laptop is running XP home office and Xp windows. Dont know how I lost it, but I can of course still access all the docs it related to. Icon is ok on my PC, Laptop is sometimes wireless networked to host PC. Any suggestions, probably very simple solution but i am running round in cicles looking. PS I would use system recovery to wind hard drive back to a safe point. But I have recently loaded other things and do not want to lose them. And I am not sure when the Icon facility dissappeared.

Start Programs Accessories then drag it to the desktop
Or search for explorer.exe and drag to the desktop with the right mouse button to create a short cut

Evening all, Thanks to all for your help I'll give them a try and let you know how I get on.

TM

Croc- Just finished a late Sunday, Roast beef and Yorks, washed down with one or Two. Many thanks for 1211 and 1212 simple when you know how. Merci Beaucoup Monsieur -- Bonsoir.
Ps thanks for the Sunday Traders Thread as always.

Kayak and all, many thanks for all your office earlier up the thread. I changed hard drives and it worked perfecly. The only problem is my new hard drive (which is twice the size) is sat there collecting dust whilst im using the old one - not sure thats good practice!

I have what I hope is a little problem...:-I Loaded Win2000 Pro over weekend and has worked OK for a couple of days.
Screen froze while on the Internet Broadband connection (NTL) So switched comp off. Now it trys to boot up, and goes thru routine to Blue screen phase, then starts again. Just doesnt quite get there. This is on my backup computer.
Any ideas please. Ta in advance...

d2k i will send you a PM.

Cheers, Spaceman. Will wait with baited breath now. Presume your back from Aus. Bit of a culture shock! Weatherwise :-(((

d2k, didnt message arrive?

Not as yet, Spaceman. Just tested PM service with TP and its OK.... :-)
EDIT.Just sent you PM, with e-mail address, Cheers d2k

can you email your phone number to "removed in edit" and I will call you?

You around Spaceman? :-))) Finally got your original message!!!! Snailmail!! Will try call you around 4pm. If your not around dont worry.!!

What's up with the charts?

2nd day in a row they've been ok first thing in the morning, only to stop loading later on.

Please can anyone help me out, when I download something to read using
Adobe 5.0 all I get is 0&Xs
Thanks.

TM

Right! Ive installed My Fax Modem.
First question. Can I only send a Fax using the Dial up option not my Broadband connection?
The Modem came with FaxTalk Which refuses to install properly.
Ive Installed Fax Services from my XP PRO Disk. This seems to work. Do I have to compose fax then connect to my dial up then press receive Fax? This is the only way, so far that I have been able to get them to transmit.
In Word the only option in "Send" is now Send to Fax recipient or PowerPoint The E-Mail recipient option is always grayed out.Ive checked options and Mail as Attachment is ticked.
Sorry if its not to clear. Any assistance would be much appreciated.
Iain