windows desktop appearance problem

[mhinchey]

i am running windows xp pro and the desktop recently changed and i can't get it back to looking normal. there is currently a gray vertical band on the left margin as if i was in windows explorer. the band is an explorer band with some pull down menus in it.

i fixed this problem before over a year ago and forgot how. the chat room respondant directed me to a website with a downloadable fix. they said it was an adware that was creating this appearance.

does anyone know the solution for this appearance problem?

thanks

[pip22]

If it's caused by adware, you can download free adware removers via the links below. I suggest you install, update, and run them both. Hopefully that will fix it.

"Spybot Search & Destroy" from here:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

"Adaware SE Personal Edition" from here:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/...e_personal.php

If that puts things right I recommend you also delete all your System Restore points so as not to inadvertently restore the problem if you need to use System Restore in the next few weeks (same should be done after cleaning up a virus infection). To delete all restore points, Control Panel->System->System Restore. Tick box to "Turn off system restore" and click "apply". All restore points are deleted. Now untick box again and click "OK" to put System Restore back on. It will start afresh with a clean slate.

[mhinchey]

Thanks for the suggestion. I found a fix at dougknox.com that took care of the adware problem. I also deleted restore points as suggested.

mhinchey