I never use run, if you use run you do not have the option to right click on the download and scan it with your security programs prior to installing it. I create a folder for each thing I download in my downloads folder so I know exactly where it will be and once I download it I always right click and scan the download to make sure it is clean before double clicking it to install it. Also that way should you ever need to install it again you still have your install file right there should you need it.

Lynn, Are you using 'Windows XP', 'Vista', or some other operating system? You mentioned 'Superantispyware' removing "several spywares". Have you also run a full scan with your 'anti-virus' program? If not, update and run a full scan. Something else I overlooked when I read your initial post, I see you're using AOL 9.1. I'm still using AOL 9.0 SE, so there may be some changes to the way things are done in 9.1 as far as repairing the software. I'm not even sure they have the same features in 9.1 so let's forget about 'rebuilding the AOL adapter' for now. Someone else using that version of AOL will have to jump in here. If you have the 'AOL' icon down in the system tray (by the clock) you can right click that and see what options there are. System Restore is painless and if you don't get the results you want you just 'undo' the restore. If you had any kind of virus or spyware infection and you restore to a time when your machine was infected, yes, it will restore those infections, but you can always run your anti-virus and anti-spyware applications again to remove them. I can't say for certain whether or not 'system restore' will affect your bookmarks but it is always a good idea to back up anything on your computer that you cannot afford to lose or want the hastle of having to replace. There can never be enough said about the importance of backing up important data! I use Acronis True Image which makes an image of the complete hard drive, sector by sector, that will restore everything including operating system, programs, documents, pictures, data, etc. to the 'T'. This is on a second drive in my PC in case my primary drive should fail. I also have an external hard drive where I back up 'My Documents'. "I also ran ccleaner right after the updates (I thought at first that that was the problem) - should I rerun that as well?" No, running CCleaner again is not going to fix the problem, nor do I see where CCleaner would have created your problem, unless by chance, if you also used the 'Registry' feature in CCleaner, it may have removed something. Anytime you use any kind of registry cleaner it should have the option of making a backup in case things go wrong, which is exactly why most cleaners, some don't, have the backup option. Either that or create a 'system restore' point before you use it. Using a 'registry cleaner' is a hot topic. Some swear by them, others swear at them! I personally have use Macecraft 'Reg Supreme' for years with no ill effects. "There may have been an easier way to do this, but I just copied and pasted all the bookmarks I made_____". There is: Internet Explorer has an 'import/export' feature for transferring or backing up your cookies and favorites. Click on 'File' in the Menu bar at the top of the IE browser, select 'Import/Export', and follow the Wizard. You can save them to a file on your computer for retrieval later if you should need to do so using the same wizard. I made a folder called 'Backups' in the 'My Documents' folder where I store a copy of my 'cookies' and 'favorites'. In Firefox, I'm still using version 2.0.0.16, if you go to 'Bookmarks' in the Menu bar and select 'Organize bookmarks' and click on 'File', you'll find an 'Import' and 'Export' wizard. Drink some 'brave' juice and try the system restore first to see if that works. Witz

jean, I did that, as I said in my post, and couldn't find some of them, like blockbuster video. damcoy, when I tried to search for them, the computer couldn't find them either. The Search option didn't list desktop programs, so I wasn't sure where to look. It listed, "Pictures, music, or video", "Documents," "All files and folders," and "Computers or People." None seemed to be the one for desktop. I searched "Documents" and "Files and Folders" and came up empty.

Okay.....I did both updates, and then I ran JavaRa and removed all old versions. But then I went to the Mozilla Plugin Check Page, and saw that it still listed my Java as old and outdated. So I said okay, and I clicked Update--whereupon we went through the installation process again. However, the previous time I selected the 64-bit version because that's what my computer is, and this time I chose the 32-bit version. Now Mozilla says all my plug-ins are current and secure. Of course, I still can't load MSNBC and assorted other sites with Firefox. :-/ Since we've made all these changes, do you think it would help if I uninstalled and reinstalled Firefox?