there is no doubt in my mind that the pc has some serious infection on it, the things it was doing were give aways, the redirects and the google problems are things seen from infection. Depending on who tried to clean it and how they did it could they have caused some of the problem my guess is yes and since we are now seeing other errors I would guess there are now some problems with the Operating system it self. the problem you have is that the laptop likely has the exact same infections, my guess is you visted the same sites with the laptop and that you got the infections on it as well as the desktop. I would run the malwarebytes on that laptop immediately. Do not worry about not being able to do it this is extremely easy to do just jump in and do it, the directions are all on the link I provided step by step. Download, install, update run full scan, tell it to clean what it finds, reboot when told to. Simple. And once you do that we can get a log from the laptop and that will give us an idea of what infections we are dealing with.

I ran it again - hope it has everything: Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2 Scan saved at 10:46:50 PM, on 2/13/2011 Platform: Windows Vista SP2 (WinNT 6.00.1906) MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.19019) Boot mode: Normal Running processes: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12\ONENOTEM.EXE C:\Program Files (x86)\Hewlett-Packard\HP Quick Launch Buttons\QLBCTRL.exe C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\HP Software Update\hpwuschd2.exe C:\Program Files (x86)\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\QuickPlay\QPService.exe C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\PC Tools\sMonitor\SSDMonitor.exe C:\PROGRA~2\Webshots\webshots.scr C:\Program Files (x86)\Hewlett-Packard\Shared\hpqToaster.exe C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe C:\Program Files (x86)\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TYPE=3&tp=iehome&locale=en_us&c=81&bd=Pavilion&pf=laptop R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TYPE=3&tp=iehome&locale=en_us&c=81&bd=Pavilion&pf=laptop R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896 R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896 R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TYPE=3&tp=iehome&locale=en_us&c=81&bd=Pavilion&pf=laptop R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch = R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = C:\Windows\SysWOW64\blank.htm R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName = R3 - URLSearchHook: AGSearchHook Class - "0BC6E3FA-78EF-4886-842C-5A1258C4455A> - C:\Program Files (x86)\AGI\common\agcutils.dll F2 - REG:system.ini: UserInit=userinit.exe, O1 - Hosts: ::1 localhost O2 - BHO: (no name) - "02478D38-C3F9-4efb-9B51-7695ECA05670> - (no file) O2 - BHO: HP Print Enhancer - "0347C33E-8762-4905-BF09-768834316C61> - C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\Digital Imaging\Smart Web Printing\hpswp_printenhancer.dll O2 - BHO: AcroIEHelperStub - "18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3> - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelperShim.dll O2 - BHO: WormRadar.com IESiteBlocker.NavFilter - "3CA2F312-6F6E-4B53-A66E-4E65E497C8C0> - C:\Program Files (x86)\AVG\AVG10\avgssie.dll O2 - BHO: NCO 2.0 IE BHO - "602ADB0E-4AFF-4217-8AA1-95DAC4DFA408> - (no file) O2 - BHO: Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on - "75EF13CE-B59E-41ba-8A5A-A944031BD8B4> - C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Google Analytics Opt-Out\gaoptout.dll O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - "761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43> - C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin\ssv.dll O2 - BHO: Windows Live ID Sign-in Helper - "9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6> - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll O2 - BHO: McAfee SiteAdvisor BHO - "B164E929-A1B6-4A06-B104-2CD0E90A88FF> - c:\PROGRA~2\mcafee\SITEAD~1\mcieplg.dll O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - "DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9> - C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll O2 - BHO: HP Smart BHO Class - "FFFFFFFF-CF4E-4F2B-BDC2-0E72E116A856> - C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\Digital Imaging\Smart Web Printing\hpswp_BHO.dll O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - "7FEBEFE3-6B19-4349-98D2-FFB09D4B49CA> - (no file) O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - "CCC7A320-B3CA-4199-B1A6-9F516DD69829> - (no file) O3 - Toolbar: McAfee SiteAdvisor Toolbar - "0EBBBE48-BAD4-4B4C-8E5A-516ABECAE064> - c:\PROGRA~2\mcafee\SITEAD~1\mcieplg.dll O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QlbCtrl] %ProgramFiles(x86)%\Hewlett-Packard\HP Quick Launch Buttons\QlbCtrl.exe /Start O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UCam_Menu] "C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberLink\YouCam\MUITransfer\MUIStartMenu.exe" "C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberLink\YouCam" update "Software\CyberLink\YouCam\1.0" O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Software Update] C:\Program Files (x86)\Hp\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Health Check Scheduler] c:\Program Files (x86)\Hewlett-Packard\HP Health Check\HPHC_Scheduler.exe O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files (x86)\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe" O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WirelessAssistant] C:\Program Files (x86)\Hewlett-Packard\HP Wireless Assistant\HPWAMain.exe O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QPService] "C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\QuickPlay\QPService.exe" O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe" O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe ARM] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0\AdobeARM.exe" O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG_TRAY] C:\Program Files (x86)\AVG\AVG10\avgtray.exe O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files (x86)\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SSDMonitor] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\PC Tools\sMonitor\SSDMonitor.exe" O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Sidebar] C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe /autoRun O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ehTray.exe] C:\Windows\ehome\ehTray.exe O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'LOCAL SERVICE') O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [WindowsWelcomeCenter] rundll32.exe oobefldr.dll,ShowWelcomeCenter (User 'LOCAL SERVICE') O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [Sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /detectMem (User 'NETWORK SERVICE') O4 - Startup: OneNote 2007 Screen Clipper and Launcher.lnk = C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12\ONENOTEM.EXE O4 - Startup: Webshots.lnk = C:\Program Files (x86)\Webshots\Launcher.exe 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~2\MICROS~2\Office12\EXCEL.EXE/3000 O9 - Extra button: (no name) - "08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501> - C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin\ssv.dll O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - "08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501> - C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin\ssv.dll O9 - Extra button: Send to OneNote - "2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49> - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~2\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: S&end to OneNote - "2670000A-7350-4f3c-8081-5663EE0C6C49> - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~2\Office12\ONBttnIE.dll O9 - Extra button: Research - "92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263> - C:\PROGRA~2\MICROS~2\Office12\REFIEBAR.DLL O9 - Extra button: Show or hide HP Smart Web Printing - "DDE87865-83C5-48c4-8357-2F5B1AA84522> - C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\Digital Imaging\Smart Web Printing\hpswp_BHO.dll O13 - Gopher Prefix: O16 - DPF: "D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000> (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://fpdownload2.macromedia.com/get/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab O16 - DPF: "E2883E8F-472F-4FB0-9522-AC9BF37916A7> - http://platformdl.adobe.com/NOS/getPlusPlus/1.6/gp.cab O18 - Protocol: dssrequest - "5513F07E-936B-4E52-9B00-067394E91CC5> - c:\PROGRA~2\mcafee\SITEAD~1\mcieplg.dll O18 - Protocol: linkscanner - "F274614C-63F8-47D5-A4D1-FBDDE494F8D1> - C:\Program Files (x86)\AVG\AVG10\avgpp.dll O18 - Protocol: sacore - "5513F07E-936B-4E52-9B00-067394E91CC5> - c:\PROGRA~2\mcafee\SITEAD~1\mcieplg.dll O18 - Protocol: wlpg - "E43EF6CD-A37A-4A9B-9E6F-83F89B8E6324> - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Photo Gallery\AlbumDownloadProtocolHandler.dll O23 - Service: AG Windows Service (AGWinService) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\AGI\common\win32\PythonService.exe O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\Alg.exe,-112 (ALG) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\alg.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe O23 - Service: AVGIDSAgent - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\Program Files (x86)\AVG\AVG10\Identity Protection\Agent\Bin\AVGIDSAgent.exe O23 - Service: AVG WatchDog (avgwd) - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\Program Files (x86)\AVG\AVG10\avgwdsvc.exe O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe O23 - Service: Com4Qlb - Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Hewlett-Packard\HP Quick Launch Buttons\Com4Qlb.exe O23 - Service: @dfsrres.dll,-101 (DFSR) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\DFSR.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: GameConsoleService - WildTangent, Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\HP Games\My HP Game Console\GameConsoleService.exe O23 - Service: Google Update Service (gupdate) (gupdate) - Google Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe O23 - Service: Google Updater Service (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe O23 - Service: HP Health Check Service - Hewlett-Packard - c:\Program Files (x86)\Hewlett-Packard\HP Health Check\hphc_service.exe O23 - Service: hpqwmiex - Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Hewlett-Packard\Shared\hpqwmiex.exe O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe O23 - Service: @keyiso.dll,-100 (KeyIso) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: LightScribeService Direct Disc Labeling Service (LightScribeService) - Hewlett-Packard Company - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\LightScribe\LSSrvc.exe O23 - Service: McAfee SiteAdvisor Service - McAfee, Inc. - c:\PROGRA~2\mcafee\SITEAD~1\mcsacore.exe O23 - Service: @comres.dll,-2797 (MSDTC) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\msdtc.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\System32\netlogon.dll,-102 (Netlogon) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (nvsvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\nvvsvc.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: PC Tools Startup and Shutdown Monitor service (PCToolsSSDMonitorSvc) - PC Tools - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\PC Tools\sMonitor\StartManSvc.exe O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\psbase.dll,-300 (ProtectedStorage) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: QuickPlay Background Capture Service (QBCS) (QPCapSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\QuickPlay\Kernel\TV\QPCapSvc.exe O23 - Service: QuickPlay Task Scheduler (QTS) (QPSched) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\QuickPlay\Kernel\TV\QPSched.exe O23 - Service: Cyberlink RichVideo Service(CRVS) (RichVideo) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberLink\Shared Files\RichVideo.exe O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\Locator.exe,-2 (RpcLocator) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\locator.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\samsrv.dll,-1 (SamSs) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\SLsvc.exe,-101 (slsvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\SLsvc.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\snmptrap.exe,-3 (SNMPTRAP) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\snmptrap.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\spoolsv.exe,-1 (Spooler) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\spoolsv.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: SupportSoft RemoteAssist - SupportSoft, Inc. - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\supportsoft\bin\ssrc.exe O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\ui0detect.exe,-101 (UI0Detect) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\UI0Detect.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\vds.exe,-100 (vds) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\vds.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\vssvc.exe,-102 (VSS) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\vssvc.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: @%Systemroot%\system32\wbem\wmiapsrv.exe,-110 (wmiApSrv) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\wbem\WmiApSrv.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: @%ProgramFiles%\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe,-101 (WMPNetworkSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: XAudioService - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\xaudio64.exe (file missing) -- End of file - 12673 bytes

Some have negative opinion of the various registry tools. I've used Max Registry Cleaner for about 18 months and like it. I installed it in my womans comp and it removed over 13,000 , yes, 13,000 invalid entries. I'm sure some of the entries were from day one a few years ago. She said her comp seemed to work a little faster now. I have to wonder why. Grady

@chuggerguy I almost downloaded another distro recommended for XP users since it's supposed to have a very similar desktop. It's called Zorin OS. "A general-use distribution that mimics the look, feel, and functionality of Windows. This is geared for those who prefer the Windows interface or need an easier way to transition from Windows to Linux. Based on: Ubuntu." My son has an old Dell laptop that has only 256MB RAM, so Puppy Linux would be great to try on that one. Yes, I'll try several before deciding which one to actually install. BTW, I did boot into Mint last evening, and at first was totally lost. However, I soon found the start menu, etc., so I am anxious to give it a try.