Internet Explorer has somehow been upgraded to always select MS' web
search toolbar and not show my Google search bar.  I have downloaded
the latest Google toolbar and installed it.  When I click on "View"
then "Toolbars," Google is checked and IE Web Search is not, yet what
I see is IE Web Search toolbar and not the Google toolbar.  How do I
get my Google Toolbar back?

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Request for Question Clarification by hummer-ga on 23 Jun 2004 11:54 PDT

Hi nmdragon,

Try unchecking all of the toolbars, close IE, reopen IE and reselect
the Google Toolbar.

Please let us know how that goes -

Good luck!
hummer

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Request for Question Clarification by techtor-ga on 24 Jun 2004 00:30 PDT

Hello Nmdragon,
I believe spyware or malware is affecting your Internet Explorer's
handling of plug-ins and added programs. Try installing and running
the latest versions of the spyware cleaners Ad-Aware and Spybot and
let us know if that fixes things.

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Clarification of Question by nmdragon-ga on 25 Jun 2004 05:56 PDT

hummer-ga,

Thanks for your response.  Unfortunately, I had already tried that and
it didn't help.

techtor-ga

Thanks for your response.  You were exactly right.  After I ran a
spyware blocker program, the problem went away.

Hello Nmdragon,
Thanks for responding! I am glad my solution helped you. Now I post
here in assumption that I have succesfully answered your question.

As you see, spyware comes in many forms, and among the more noticeable
forms is the self-installation of a toolbar on your Internet Explorer
browser. When you surf a site or click some links that have spyware,
it causes the spyware code to be copied to your computer, and when
detected by another site later on, it causes toolbars or dialers to be
installed on your computer without your wanting them. This spyware is
even designed to resist changes by the users, and takes special
software to change or remove them. Spyware is a very common and
onerous problem these days, and you will need to install a lot of
software to help you avoid the mess of problems that result from it.

For the benefit of others, let me include some other 

Here's a site with a list of websites pertaining to the topic of Spyware:
Search Engine Wars forum - Spyware in your computer, toolbars bug the FTC
http://www.searchwars.squarespace.com/display/ShowPage?moduleId=16431

For the protection proper, here are some Spyware programs:


Spybot
http://www.safer-networking.org/

Ad-Aware free edition
http://www.lavasoft.ru/

Hijack This
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html
- Has other software like CWS Shredder, Startuplist and others.


Another solution might be to use another browser that isn't prone to
spyware, like Mozilla:
Mozilla home page
http://www.mozilla.org/


Search Strategy is my personal experience.

I hope this has been a most helpful answer. If you need something
clarified, or have a problem with the answer, do please post a Request
for Clarification before rating and I shall respond as soon as I can.
Thank you.