these are the directions we give for malwarebytes at download # Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program. # At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then click Finish. # If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version. # Once the program has loaded, select Perform full scan, then click Scan. # When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results. # Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected. # When completed, a log will open in Notepad. Please save it to a convenient location. The log can also be found here: C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Application Data\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\Logs\log-date.txt did you do the step that says be sure everything is checked and click REMOVE selected? I personally would never have Norton on one of my computers again been there done that and fought to get all their stuff off my pc and that was quite a challenge. I use Avast free for my antivirus and like it, if I were to pay for one it would be ESET Nod32 which is highly ranked. Always be sure to update malwarebytes prior to running the scans and I run the full scan weekly.

I delete all pups/maleware, your freezing problem is probably unrelated, look in add/remove or uninstall in control panel for junk or viral toolbars etc. and uninstall, for instance anything conduit, like search conduit, or coupon saver uninstall ASAP.

I delete all the pups I find. I haven't had a problem with doing that. I googled to be sure. I think my Ghostery stops it when it's on.

Ok this is simple now. Just use Google and type edit registry and millions of hits appear. Look through the first few and you will find many tutorials with good graphics showing step by step. You are nervous and rightly so because of all the warnings about messing up a registry. HOWEVER, this is nothing more than making a correction to a spelling error if you look at it that way. First time just go into the registry working down to the needed page. Once there you can walk away and grab a coffee if you feel stress, or you can make the simple correction to the one entry in question. Those of us who help others always need to stress the importance of caution in the registry because of those who are so impetuous. my ex son in law is a good example, he goes into a computer like a bull in a china shop. Luckily I do not have to clean up behind him anymore :) Now I have learned how to put stuff into a flash drive and save my files. Why? You are going to back up the registry as a precaution, nothing more. To save your work, assuming it is stored in My Documents. Insert the thumb drive, cancel the popup right click Start click Explore Now you see Windows Explorer opened Look near the top on the left side and right click on My Documnts click Properties in the pop up Look to see how large the My Documents folder is and if you have enough room on the thumb drive. We'll assume you have room. OK.... Click My Documents to highlight On the right side click the top item to highlight Hold down the Shift key and tap the End key now all the right side is highlighted right click anywhere on the highlighted data click Copy in the pop up Scroll down the left side now to find the thumb drive right click on it in the pop up click Paste and the contents are copied to your thumb drive - or any other drive you designate. Done! Simple huh?