Righto. I've checked around the forums and I couldn't find anything about this out.
Basically, those wonderful people at lop.com and that searchweb2 thing are placing icons on my desktop. They advertise such interesting and entertaining pleasures such as gambling and bingo and travel and printer cartridges..it's like they've read my whole life story because of course I am a gambling bingo tycoon who likes to travel to exotic locations for rare and wonderful printer catridges....*cough*
anyways, they are very annoying and I've tried some of the proceedures you suggested but nothing could be found out. did ad-aware scans and s&d scans and anti-virus (trendmicro and avg) and windows is up-to-date and oh I have the spyguard and spyblaster. Spyguard tells me that something is trying to change my IE homepage to god knows what every five seconds. Frustrating.
Here's my HJT log:
Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.7
Scan saved at 16:49:57, on 30/12/2004
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)
Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\TGTSoft\StyleXP\StyleXPService.exe
C:\Program Files\Sygate\SPF\smc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\LEXBCES.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\LEXPPS.EXE
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgamsvr.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgupsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\CTSvcCDA.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\MsPMSPSv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Hardware\Keyboard\type32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\carpserv.exe
C:\Program Files\Pinnacle\InstantCDDVD\InstantWrite\iwctrl.exe
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Logitech\QCDriver\LVCOMS.EXE
C:\Program Files\D-Tools\daemon.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\Program Files\Logitech\iTouch\iTouch.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Logitech\MOUSEW~1\SYSTEM\EM_EXEC.EXE
C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\NvMixer\NvMixerTray.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe
C:\Program Files\Musicmatch\Musicmatch Jukebox\mm_tray.exe
C:\Program Files\Musicmatch\Musicmatch Jukebox\mmtask.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\Gmail Notifier\G001-1.0.24.0\gnotify.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger Plus! 3\MsgPlus.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgcc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgemc.exe
C:\Program Files\Winamp\winampa.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\program files\steam\steam.exe
C:\Program Files\ATI Multimedia\RemCtrl\ATIX10.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\TGTSoft\StyleXP\StyleXP.exe
C:\Program Files\AIM\aim.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\rundll32.exe
C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\msnmsgr.exe
C:\Program Files\InterVideo\Common\Bin\WinCinemaMgr.exe
c:\progra~1\intern~1\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\LiveJournal\LiveJournal.exe
C:\Program Files\SpywareGuard\sgmain.exe
C:\Program Files\SpywareGuard\sgbhp.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktopIndex.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktopCrawl.exe
C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktopOE.exe
C:\Program Files\Musicmatch\Musicmatch Jukebox\mmjb.exe
C:\Program Files\Musicmatch\Musicmatch Jukebox\MMDiag.exe
C:\Program Files\Musicmatch\Musicmatch Jukebox\mm_director.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\MUSICM~1\MUSICM~2\MM_TDM~1.EXE
C:\PROGRA~1\MOZILL~1\FIREFOX.EXE
C:\Documents and Settings\Neil\Desktop\HijackThis.exe
C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\msimn.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Neil\Desktop\HijackThis.exe
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar =
http://ycfmwijieawxf.info//Pm022dXk_BbVtYtD_2/i4gfHp47BYcQIZUyHwAjvt3EWqqICCcWAiBuo4wYc4zS.html
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL =
http://www.meshcomputers.com
R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - {1C78AB3F-A857-482e-80C0-3A1E5238A565} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {4A2AACF3-ADF6-11D5-98A9-00E018981B9E} - C:\Program Files\NewDotNet\newdotnet6_38.dll
O2 - BHO: SpywareGuard Download Protection - {4A368E80-174F-4872-96B5-0B27DDD11DB2} - C:\Program Files\SpywareGuard\dlprotect.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {75148CF2-E70D-A1DE-7619-042E4149D54D} - C:\DOCUME~1\Neil\APPLIC~1\INTERN~1\FreeEnc.exe
O2 - BHO: Google Desktop Search Capture - {7c1ce531-09e9-4fc5-9803-1c2956615786} - C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktopIE.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O2 - BHO: TGTSoft Explorer Toolbar Changer - {C333CF63-767F-4831-94AC-E683D962C63C} - C:\Program Files\TGTSoft\StyleXP\TGT_BHO.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IntelliType] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Hardware\Keyboard\type32.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CARPService] carpserv.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VOBID] C:\Program Files\Pinnacle\InstantCDDVD\InstantDrive\InstantDrive.exe /remount
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IW ControlCenter] C:\Program Files\Pinnacle\InstantCDDVD\InstantWrite\iwctrl.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PinnacleDriverCheck] C:\WINDOWS\System32\PSDrvCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIPTA] C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LVCOMS] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Logitech\QCDriver\LVCOMS.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DAEMON Tools-1033] "C:\Program Files\D-Tools\daemon.exe" -lang 1033
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroFilterCheck] C:\WINDOWS\system32\NeroCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SysMetrix] C:\Program Files\SysMetrix\SysMetrix.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [zBrowser Launcher] C:\Program Files\Logitech\iTouch\iTouch.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [EM_EXEC] C:\PROGRA~1\Logitech\MOUSEW~1\SYSTEM\EM_EXEC.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMixerTray] C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\NvMixer\NvMixerTray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [New.net Startup] rundll32 C:\PROGRA~1\NEWDOT~1\NEWDOT~1.DLL,NewDotNetStartup -s
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SmcService] C:\PROGRA~1\Sygate\SPF\smc.exe -startgui
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MMTray] C:\Program Files\Musicmatch\Musicmatch Jukebox\mm_tray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [mmtask] C:\Program Files\Musicmatch\Musicmatch Jukebox\mmtask.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [{0228e555-4f9c-4e35-a3ec-b109a192b4c2}] C:\Program Files\Google\Gmail Notifier\G001-1.0.24.0\gnotify.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MessengerPlus3] "C:\Program Files\Messenger Plus! 3\MsgPlus.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG7_CC] C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgcc.exe /STARTUP
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG7_EMC] C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVGFRE~1\avgemc.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinampAgent] C:\Program Files\Winamp\winampa.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Dent dog bib size] C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\copyinsidedentdog\SlowTick.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Steam] "c:\program files\steam\steam.exe" -silent
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ATI Remote Control] C:\Program Files\ATI Multimedia\RemCtrl\ATIX10.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [STYLEXP] C:\Program Files\TGTSoft\StyleXP\StyleXP.exe -Hide
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MessengerPlus3] "C:\Program Files\Messenger Plus! 3\MsgPlus.exe" /WinStart
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [AIM] C:\Program Files\AIM\aim.exe -cnetwait.odl
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [DASH PROC] C:\DOCUME~1\Neil\APPLIC~1\ERRORT~1\Inter Ping Intra.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Google Desktop Search] "C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe" /startup
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [msnmsgr] "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\msnmsgr.exe" /background
O4 - Startup: LiveJournal.lnk = C:\Program Files\LiveJournal\LiveJournal.exe
O4 - Startup: Registration-INSDVD.lnk = C:\Program Files\Pinnacle\InstantCDDVD\SharedFiles\Pixie\RegTool.exe
O4 - Startup: SpywareGuard.lnk = C:\Program Files\SpywareGuard\sgmain.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Gamma Loader.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Calibration\Adobe Gamma Loader.exe
O4 - Global Startup: InterVideo WinCinema Manager.lnk = C:\Program Files\InterVideo\Common\Bin\WinCinemaMgr.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Logitech Desktop Messenger.lnk = C:\Program Files\Logitech\Desktop Messenger\8876480\Program\LDMConf.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OSA.EXE
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search -
res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsearch.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward Links -
res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmbacklinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Cached Snapshot of Page -
res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmcache.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Similar Pages -
res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsimilar.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate into English -
res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmtrans.html
O9 - Extra button: AIM (HKLM)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger (HKLM)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger (HKLM)
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\program files\google\google desktop search\googledesktopnetwork1.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\program files\google\google desktop search\googledesktopnetwork1.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\program files\google\google desktop search\googledesktopnetwork1.dll
O10 - Broken Internet access because of LSP provider 'xfire_lsp.dll' missing
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://www.meshcomputers.com
O16 - DPF: {00B71CFB-6864-4346-A978-C0A14556272C} (Checkers Class) -
http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/msgrchkr.cab
O16 - DPF: {1C78AB3F-A857-482E-80C0-3A1E5238A565} -
http://toolbar.isearch.com/general/drm.cab
O16 - DPF: {36C66BBD-E667-4DAD-9682-58050E7C9FDC} (CDKey Class) -
http://www.cdkeybonus.com/cdkey/ITCDKey.cab
O16 - DPF: {39B0684F-D7BF-4743-B050-FDC3F48F7E3B} (FilePlanet Download Control Class) -
http://www.fileplanet.com/fpdlmgr/cabs/FPDC_1_0_0_44.cab
O16 - DPF: {70BA88C8-DAE8-4CE9-92BB-979C4A75F53B} (GSDACtl Class) -
http://launch.gamespyarcade.com/software/launch/alaunch.cab
O16 - DPF: {74D05D43-3236-11D4-BDCD-00C04F9A3B61} (HouseCall Control) -
http://a840.g.akamai.net/7/840/537/2004061001/housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/xscan53.cab
O16 - DPF: {8E0D4DE5-3180-4024-A327-4DFAD1796A8D} (MessengerStatsClient Class) -
http://messenger.zone.msn.com/binary/MessengerStatsClient.cab
O16 - DPF: {B9191F79-5613-4C76-AA2A-398534BB8999} -
http://us.dl1.yimg.com/download.yahoo.com/dl/installs/suite/yautocomplete.cab
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) -
http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab
O16 - DPF: {E56347B0-6C2B-4C2E-939F-EE513EAC80BC} (Creative Product Registration ActiveX Control Module) -
http://www.creative.com/register/OCXs/CtORWebClientNoMFC.cab
Thanks for taking the time to read it and put up with my puny attempts at trying to be funny. Also thank you ever so much in advance if you manage to solve my problem.