Marooma, thanks. I will check that out before i do the format. Sounds helpful. Zep,(or anyone that may know), another question i have is, I think I read on the WD site something about after I reformat, that I would need to download the original files that were on the disk. I'm not too clear on that point as to what those files are. Does this sound like something I would need to do? Do I need those files in order to use the disk? I've tried asking on the WD site, but I don't find it too user friendly. I get dizzy trying to follow the links and lose track of where the helpful info is. Thanks

DA has written a good, thought provoking post. I believe far too many computer users never back up their personal data assuming things will never go wrong. I recently worked on an 11 year old computer owned by a bookkeeper who does not back her data up. Tell me that is not playing with fire. Even seeming to be prepared can be very misleading. I have Acronis True Image and created an image of my drive for safety. Weeks later I decided to install the beta service pack 3 for XP. The install stalled at 80% and said it needed to undo the changes made, I agreed. The uninstall failed and I was in a mess. Never mind I had my Acronis image I could easily do a recovery. No so fast, Acronis let me down too. Now that got my total attention sudden like, my main computer was useless. Luckily I have other computers so I was able to visit a geek forum where to my dismay I was not alone with this issue. Turns out Acronis True Image does not like restoring from an external drive but you will not find that information on their web site to my knowledge. A quick dismantling of the external to remove the drive and slave it to my computer and we were back in action lickety split. That is not the way life should be. For many who come here that is not acceptable because they only have one computer so cannot seek help if that one machine fails. Plus many users are not particularly interested in the internal workings and that is understandable too, they just want a computer that works.

I should mention that I just took AOL off my computer after 8 years. I understand AOL leaves bits of itself all over as well. When I followed your instructions I ran into a snag but tried to continue on. Hopefully Norton is gone. Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2 Scan saved at 4:17:56 PM, on 4/8/2009 Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600) MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180) Boot mode: Normal 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\svchost.exe C:\Program Files\Microsoft Windows OneCare Live\Antivirus\MsMpEng.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\brsvc01a.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\brss01a.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe c:\windows\explorer.exe C:\Program Files\Common Files\Acronis\Schedule2\schedul2.exe C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe C:\Program Files\Carbonite\Carbonite Backup\carboniteservice.exe C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE C:\Program Files\Microsoft Windows OneCare Live\OcHealthMon.exe C:\Program Files\Microsoft Windows OneCare Live\winssnotify.exe C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe C:\Program Files\SUPERAntiSpyware\SUPERAntiSpyware.exe C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\SMAgent.exe C:\Program Files\Comcast\Desktop Doctor\bin\sprtsvc.exe C:\Program Files\Microsoft Windows OneCare Live\Firewall\msfwsvc.exe C:\Program Files\Microsoft Windows OneCare Live\winss.exe C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://red.clientapps.yahoo.com/customize/ie/defaults/sb/ymsgr6/*http://www.yahoo.com/ext/search/search.html R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.comcast.net/ R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Window Title = Windows Internet Explorer provided by Comcast R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local F2 - REG:system.ini: Shell=c:\windows\explorer.exe F2 - REG:system.ini: UserInit=c:\windows\system32\userinit.exe O2 - BHO: (no name) - "02478D38-C3F9-4efb-9B51-7695ECA05670> - (no file) O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - "06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3> - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll O2 - BHO: WormRadar.com IESiteBlocker.NavFilter - "3CA2F312-6F6E-4B53-A66E-4E65E497C8C0> - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8\avgssie.dll (file missing) O2 - BHO: Spybot-S&D IE Protection - "53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F> - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - "AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7> - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Notifier BHO - "AF69DE43-7D58-4638-B6FA-CE66B5AD205D> - C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\5.1.1309.3572\swg.dll O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - "DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9> - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll O2 - BHO: JQSIEStartDetectorImpl - "E7E6F031-17CE-4C07-BC86-EABFE594F69C> - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\deploy\jqs\ie\jqs_plugin.dll O3 - Toolbar: &Google - "2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F> - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [EPSON Stylus Photo R220 Series] C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\E_FATIAIA.EXE /P30 "EPSON Stylus Photo R220 Series" /O6 "USB001" /M "Stylus Photo R220" O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [OneCareUI] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Windows OneCare Live\winssnotify.exe" O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe" O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [swg] C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\GoogleToolbarNotifier.exe O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SUPERAntiSpyware] C:\Program Files\SUPERAntiSpyware\SUPERAntiSpyware.exe O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [Symantec Network Driver Update Warning] C:\PROGRA~1\Symantec\LIVEUP~1\SNDWarn.EXE (User 'SYSTEM') O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [Symantec NetDriver Warning] C:\PROGRA~1\SYMNET~1\SNDWarn.exe (User 'SYSTEM') O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\RunOnce: [SRUUninstall] "C:\WINDOWS\System32\msiexec.exe" /x "6AF90EF6-F7F9-466C-99F4-1774826FBB40> /qn REBOOT=ReallySuppress (User 'SYSTEM') O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [Symantec Network Driver Update Warning] C:\PROGRA~1\Symantec\LIVEUP~1\SNDWarn.EXE (User 'Default user') O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\RunOnce: [SRUUninstall] "C:\WINDOWS\System32\msiexec.exe" /x "6AF90EF6-F7F9-466C-99F4-1774826FBB40> /qn REBOOT=ReallySuppress (User 'Default user') O8 - Extra context menu item: Add to Google Photos Screensa&ver - res://C:\WINDOWS\system32\GPhotos.scr/200 O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000 O9 - Extra button: Run WinHTTrack - "36ECAF82-3300-8F84-092E-AFF36D6C7040> - C:\Program Files\WinHTTrack\WinHTTrackIEBar.dll O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Launch WinHTTrack - "36ECAF82-3300-8F84-092E-AFF36D6C7040> - C:\Program Files\WinHTTrack\WinHTTrackIEBar.dll O9 - Extra button: ComcastHSI - "669B269B-0D4E-41FB-A3D8-FD67CA94F646> - http://www.comcast.net/ (file missing) O9 - Extra button: Support - "8828075D-D097-4055-AA02-2DBFA9D85E8A> - http://www.comcastsupport.com/ (file missing) O9 - Extra button: Research - "92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263> - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL O9 - Extra button: Help - "97809617-3937-4F84-B335-9BB05EF1A8D4> - http://online.comcast.net/help/ (file missing) O9 - Extra button: Real.com - "CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE> - C:\WINDOWS\System32\Shdocvw.dll O9 - Extra button: (no name) - "DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2> - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Spybot - Search & Destroy Configuration - "DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2> - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll O9 - Extra button: Messenger - "FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683> - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - "FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683> - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe O9 - Extra button: Ebates - "6685509E-B47B-4f47-8E16-9A5F3A62F683> - file://C:\Program Files\Ebates_MoeMoneyMaker\Sy350\Tp350\scri350a.htm (file missing) (HKCU) O16 - DPF: "01118400-3E00-11D2-8470-0060089874ED> (SdcNetCheckCtl Class) - http://activex.microsoft.com/objects/ocget.dll O16 - DPF: "17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700> (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39204 O16 - DPF: "2253F320-AB68-4A07-917D-4F12D8884A06> (ChainCast VMR Client Proxy) - http://www.streamaudio.com/download/ccpm_0237.cab O16 - DPF: "231B1C6E-F934-42A2-92B6-C2FEFEC24276> (yucsetreg Class) - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\common\yucconfig.dll O16 - DPF: "6F750200-1362-4815-A476-88533DE61D0C> (Ofoto Upload Manager Class) - http://www.ofoto.com/downloads/BUM/BUM_WIN_IE_1/axofupld.cab O16 - DPF: "88D969C0-F192-11D4-A65F-0040963251E5> (XML DOM Document 4.0) - file://C:\TempEI4\EI40_\msxml4.cab O16 - DPF: "AD5AE604-34F2-4C7C-AEBB-14D424294A76> - http://www.interoagent.com/SyncInstaller/ReportGenerator/ReportGenerator.cab O16 - DPF: "B9191F79-5613-4C76-AA2A-398534BB8999> - http://us.dl1.yimg.com/download.yahoo.com/dl/installs/suite/autocomplete.cab O20 - Winlogon Notify: !SASWinLogon - C:\Program Files\SUPERAntiSpyware\SASWINLO.dll O23 - Service: Acronis Scheduler2 Service (AcrSch2Svc) - Acronis - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Acronis\Schedule2\schedul2.exe O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe O23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2sgag.exe O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe O23 - Service: BrSplService (Brother XP spl Service) - brother Industries Ltd - C:\WINDOWS\system32\brsvc01a.exe O23 - Service: CarboniteService - Carbonite, Inc. (www.carbonite.com) - C:\Program Files\Carbonite\Carbonite Backup\carboniteservice.exe O23 - Service: Google Software Updater (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\1050\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Documents and Settings\Ginny\My Documents\Jen\bin\iPodService.exe O23 - Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Sun Microsystems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe O23 - Service: Pml Driver HPZ12 - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\HPZipm12.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: SoundMAX Agent Service (SoundMAX Agent Service (default)) - Analog Devices, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\SMAgent.exe O23 - Service: SupportSoft Sprocket Service (ddoctorv2) (sprtsvc_ddoctorv2) - SupportSoft, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Comcast\Desktop Doctor\bin\sprtsvc.exe -- End of file - 9201 bytes

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