Spyware (Home Search Assistent, along with its cohorts Search Extender and Shopping Wizard) has taken over my computer. I use Mozilla Firefox as my primary web browser, so I didn't even notice a problem until I randomly tried to access IE. It has since moved on to AOL Instant Messenger and causes errors whenever I attempt to send or recieve IMs. Now my computer is no longer recognizing my D:\ and E:\ drives (I don't have an A:\ drive). I don't know what to do. I've installed every possible spyware killer (Ad-aware, hijackthis, spybot, spywareblaster, spykiller, + virus scans like McAfee and Norton...and the list goes on) AND I've tried to force uninstall these programs through Your Uninstaller. Nothing has worked! Anytime I think I have them, they just duplicate themselves again. I've also tried a System Restore but can't seem to find a valid restore point. I don't know what else to do! I'm not the most computer savvy person on the planet, so if anyone is willing to kind of walk me through any steps towards removing this, that'd be ideal. Thank you!

Turn off system restore and scan again for spyware. Then put the restore back on. I can't understand how you lost your drives, etc. SFC Scannow may also work for you If worse comes to worse you probably should save your valuable stuff and then reformat and re-install XP. Happy Holidays to ALL!! Glad to have a chance to help you.

I had the virus just now and got rid of it very easily by using the system restore feture in Windows XP. Just went back a day and it fixed everything. Good thing too, I was just about to punch in the computer screen in a show of misplaced anger. bill

yankanuk, thank you for the reply, but I tried that too (several times, in fact, with no results). It finds the malware and seems to get rid of it, but as soon as I start my computer back in normal mode, it's there again. I've tried every system restore point I can find in the past 3 months and none of them have been valid. Any other suggestions? And I've tried to re-install Windows, but like I said, none of my disk drives are being recognized by my computer, so I can't.

Maybe try Hi-Jack This and do a scan and copy and send the results to me. I'll try to help you analyze it and see what is really happening with your PC. And If I can't help you, I know a few people who might be helpful. Happy Holidays to ALL!! Glad to have a chance to help you.