Computer sloth

Tom kitten, I suggest a complete spywear/yuckwear scan
Follow the instructions in this thread.
http://www.able2know.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=54757

The program spybot search and destry has an option to examine startup programs
open the program
click on Mode (top left of screen)in the drop down menu bar
select advanced a dialog box warning will appear click yes
choices will appear at the lower left of screen
click on tools
click on system startup
follow the instructions provided. uncheck the box of programs you dont want
and try your system to ensure it works the way you want for a few days.
once you have decided you no longer need this program highlight it and click delete.

do all the spywear removal proceedures first.

Don't go through the whole scan-and-clean proceedure yet, TK - lets try to take a quick look at what's actually going on with your machine first.

Download the latest version of HiJackThis, and be certain that it is installed to a folder of its own either in your Programs file or directly on your root drive (the drive on which Windows is installed, usually "Drive C:\"). If you have already installed HiJackThis, be certain its in its own correctly placed folder, not a user-specific, temporary or desktop folder (to place HJT in its own folder, open Windows Explorer - Windows key + E - locate and select your root drive, the drive on which Windows is installed, and open that folder, right-clicking anywhere in that folder's blank space, select "New">"Folder", name the new folder "HJT", then download and extract, or if you already have the latest version somewhere else move, HJT into that folder). Launch the application, then, from its splash screen, choose "Miscellaneous Tools", or from the main start page, select "Config", then select "Search for updates online", confirm, and be sure your's is the latest version. Don't run a scan or fix anything yet. When running HiJackThis to scan or fix things, run it from its own folder, WITH NO OTHER BROWSERS, WINDOWS, FILESHARING, EMAIL, OR MESSAGING APPLICATIONS OPEN OR RUNNING

Once you have downloaded and installed, HiJackThis, reboot normally, then locate and launch HJT before doing anything else. Have it generate a Startup List by going to the "Miscellaneous Tools" page, placing a checkmark in each of the 2 boxes next to the "Generate StartupList Log" button, then click the button and save the generated report. When that has completed, WITH NO OTHER BROWSERS, WINDOWS, FILESHARING, EMAIL, OR MESSAGING APPLICATIONS OPEN OR RUNNING, click the "Back" button, and have HiJackThis run a scan-and-save-log only - DO NOT "FIX" anything yet. When you have completed both scan-and-save operations, navigate back to this thread and post the 2 logs - the Startup Log and the HJT System Scan Log - and I'll take a look at 'em.

Computer sloth
Okay, I'll go the HJT route first. It was helpful a couple of years ago, and I'll put my faith in it now.

Prolly gonna be a bit more involved than just HJT, but seeing the logs should gimme something of an idea of what oughtta be done.

TomKitten - You have more problems with this computer!