how does one prevent pop ups?
how does one get clean up automatic search names appearing in address
bars eg on google brian.g

"Automatic search names appearing in address bars" !?! Doesn't sound
good, sound really bad.

Try this:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=321cd7a2-6a57-4c57-a8bd-dbf62eda9671&displaylang=en

and do a full system scan. Hopefully, your system will be clean. If
you system turns out to be clean reply back for more advice.

www.adaware.com
search "windows cleanup"
search spybot search and destroy
install google toolbar is a good popup block
www.trendmicro.com -free virus scan

I am aware of AdAware and TrendMicro. I used to use AdAware, but when
I ran Microsoft's AntiSpyware, it detected things that AdAware didn't.
I was going to recomment a virus scan next and a pop up blocker after
that. But I'm suspecting an adware problem, and wanted to narrow down
the problem to adware.

Honestly, use FireFox. Download it from www.getfirefox.com. It is more
secure than Internet Explorer, and it has the advantage of coming with
a popup blocker. More than that, with Adblock.

Download this, after installing FireFox:

http://update.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?id=10

1. When you restart Firefox after installing Adblock, it comes with no
filters. So download this to get some filters.
http://s28.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3NHSYKOH57ASO2CZBX8V3NY3N2 (right
click and save)

2. After you put that on your harddrive, go to your Firefox browser.
3. Go to Tools -> Adblock -> Preference -> Adblock Options ->

4. Now just turn off Obj-Tabs in the Adblock options

5. Import Filters under Adblock Options.

6. Import the filter you downloaded above.

7. Done!

You just eliminated all ads on all sites, whether flash ads, sound
ads, google ads, they are all gone! Oh, and there's no pop ups either
:)

There are serveral things that cause popups:

1) Messenger (not an Instant Messenger application... this is different)

2) Adware/Spyware

3) Unwanted Startup Items

ok here goes

1) Click on Start, Run, type in "services.msc" and scroll down to
"messenger"... NOT windows messenger!!  now right click on messenger
and click STOP... if its grayed out... don't worry about it.... now
right click and choose properties... in the "general" tab, select
"Startup Type: DISABLED" now press ok and close services.

2) Adware: ok get  Lavasoft AdAware (www.lavasoftusa.com) and install
it, it works quite nicely. and

ALSO: Go to Control Panel, Add/Remove programs, and scroll down the
list... see if theres anything u know u dont need like "Search
Assistant" or "WebRebates" or "bargain buddy" just something that
doesnt sound like a program you've installed  .... its spyware...

3) Startup items sometimes throw popups... and also they slow down
your computer! Go to Start, Programs, STARTUP... and see if theres
anything there that u dont need starting with ur computer... delete
them, theyre only shortcuts, chances are there wont be anything bad
there... BUT heres the real trick:

go to Start, Run, type "msconfig" and press enter... you should get a
window.. go to the "Startup" tab... and uncheck anything that u dont
need...  if u have norton antivirus, then DONT uncheck anything that
has like "CCapp" or "NVcpl" or something in the name because those are
all norton processes...

OK!! popups are done!! PLUS if u did all of it right, your computer
should run MUCH faster...


ADRESS BAR: go to Tools, Internet options, and go to the "general"
tab... go down to where you see "history" ok... press "clear history"
that should get rid of the search things.... and if u dont want them
to remember the searches long, change the number of days it remembers
it from 20 to something else... like 1... then it would only show u
yesterdays searches. or u can choose 0 to never show them.


THERE YOU GO!!! All done! "You're welcome", in advance!

I agree that you should run Ad-Aware, Spybot, and the MS Spyware Tool.
 After downloading Ad-Aware and Spybot remember to update them before
running.  A pop-up blocker is fine if your system is clean, otherwise
it just tends to hide any problems you may have.  During normal
surfing you should not see a lot of pop-ups anyway.  If you do, you
have a spyware/adware problem and should fix it, not hide it with a
pop-up blocker.  Also, Firefox is great, but make sure you check for
updates regularly - Like IE, vulnerabilities are constantly being
found in FF.  Good luck!

"Pop-UP Stopper" from http://www.panicware.com/ works great to stop
popups and its free.  Highly recommended by PC World, PC Magazine,
etc.  I use it as well as Ad-Aware, and Spybot Search & Destroy for
stopping and removing "spybots".

To prevent pop ups you can use the google toolbar or get winXP SP2,
both have a pop up blocker built in.
To clear the names that appear in your address bar you go to tools
internet options, and click the "Clear History" button. To stop search
names appearing in the address bar you select tools, Internet options,
click on the content tab then click the autocomplete button, then
remove the tick from the "web addresses" tick box.
Hope this helps.

You have a Brower Helper Object. It installs with freeware like
Net2Phone, Limewire, etc. I think it's bargainbuddy. They claim to
help you search the web, but target their sponsor's websites and
cripples your computer performance. The problem with only installing
Firefox is that you're still vulnerable. I use Firefox and still find
spyware on my PC, every week. Get a pay-for anti-spyware.
Here's what you need: 

A great resource that describes various spyware:
http://www.antispywarecompare.com/commonspy.htm  Great list of common spyware

They have a package of mostly-free softare:
http://www.antispywarecompare.com/promotions_and_deals.htm   For less
than $40, you get: CounterSpy (just won "PC World Best Buy" for April
2005, Sygate Personal Firewall, (this is an absolute must and it's
easy to install), and I Hate Spam - a great Anti-Spam product. It'll
take care of you.

http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10289035.html?tag=lst-0-2


nuff said

Did this get resolved???

I have excellent luck with Antispyware

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=321cd7a2-6a57-4c57-a8bd-dbf62eda9671&displaylang=en

Keith
http://internethelp.bravehost.com

Google pop up blocker can help.

http://toolbar.google.com/
Load on this toolbar to pop up blocker.

Keith
http://internethelp.bravehost.com