Thank you very much for your help on my Search Engine Hijacked
question. Your input helped me in trying a variety of solutions. I’m
not really sure which one finally did it but all the cleanup should
help with other system-clogging messes as well.

I’ve closed the other question but I want to recognize that you
helped. Tell me what is your favorite preventative maintenance tool or
your most interesting recovery story.

Thanks again,

czh

I am delighted to have been of assistance! It's always a pleasure to
be able to help a colleague.

One of my favorite tools in maintaining a system that is free of
spyware (and other intruders) is the Spyware Info Support Forums.
There are useful posts and helpful people here:

Spyware Info Support Forums
http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/index.php

My favorite anti-spy software is Ad-Aware. Several months ago, I
installed Spybot, and it caused me many hours of trouble-shooting
after it precipitated a disaster in Win2K Pro. After that, I went back
to Ad-Aware, which has never given me any problems, and has helped me
to strip huge amounts of unwanted junk off my hard drive.

Ad-Aware is available from Lavasoft:

Lavasoft
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/

Regarding an "interesting recovery story," I sure wish I had an
interesting story. My recoveries after having been invaded by viruses,
trojans, hijacks, and such have been teeth-grindingly dull. In lieu of
a story, here is a little verse that I wrote when a slow, but trusty
486 bit the dust:

ODE TO A PC

She was just a humble 'puter
But I'm gonna miss her so;
She is now in PC Heaven,
Where the Timex Sinclairs go,
Where the Lord's your surge protector
And the angels press the keys,
And the shelf-life is forever
For the good little PC's.

~Pink

Thanks very much.
czh