Hi bentwings
For starters, do the following and post back with results: -
1. Don't use OE, it is a serious vunerability waiting to happen!
2. Reinstall IE: -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=318378
3. Learn to save all data!!! (Noted the comment in Note 4.)
4. Do a repair installation of Office.
Have you run an online AV scan lately?
http://www.pandasoftware.com/actives..._principal.htm
Do you use p2p, especially, KaZaA?
Used the following free tools lately, just to be on the safe side? Run them regularly.
Turn off System Restore, prior to performing the following and re-enable it after, if you wish to do so: -
http://support.microsoft.com/default...&Product=winxp
The reason you need to disable System Restore, is that many of these pests/virii hide within the Restore files. These are protected by Windows, therefore the scans will delete the pests/virii from its initial location, but not from the Restore folder.
System Restore is unpredictable and unreliable at the best of times and seldom works as intended. It is much better
to use a disk imaging or backup utility such as Norton Ghost 2003. Tried and tested, IMO.
Run an online AV scan, as some virii are designed to disable installed AV. In addition, I take it that you have a quality, updated and properly configured AV and Firewall on your system: -
http://www.pandasoftware.com/active...n_principal.htm
Dl, install, update and run the following free apps on a regular basis: -
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/ (Ad-aware)
http://www.lavahelp.com/howto/fullscan/index.html (Ad-aware Tutorial)
http://www.safer-networking.org/ (Spybot-S&D)
http://www.net-integration.net/reviews/spybot2.html (Spybot-S&D Tutorial)
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html (SpywareGuard)
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html (SpywareBlaster)
http://209.133.47.200/~merijn/downloads.html (CWShredder)
http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/ (McAfee Stinger)