Trying to help my dad, he is totally not computer savvy, I am just a little. Found Ad-Aware found HUNDREDS of spyware, malware, etc. (287!) Many are registry key ones. Scared to touch those. Advice?

Let Ad-Aware remove them. I've never seen a false positive using Ad-Aware, unlike some of the other anti-spyware programs. Suzi Spyware Warrior Microsoft MVP Windows-Security 2005

Hi, How install Spywareblaster and update Install Spybot and use the Immunize feature. The new MS Spyware removal program is getting good reports. http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx hth Ceri

I would delete them, just keep them in quarantine until your certain the computer works normally.

thanks all. computer was having so many problems, I chose to reformat hard drive. start over clean.

Reformat must be last option... Of course its good to have clean system again, but if you'll do that every time your dad will infect with adware, then it will start to annoy you. usually you can trust adaware even if its doesnt find all the threats.