regarding a stubborn istsrv.dll I wanted to post to "Spyware that keeps coming back May 16, 2003 at 20:00:52 Pacific" but computing.net wouldn't let me. [heres excerpt from the old post] IST bar helped itself to my computer along with Gator, Xupiter and some other crap. Spybot S&D did not get rid of the IST bar, but I found the istsrv.dll file and deleted some keys in the registry to lose sight of any IST stuff.[end of excerpt] keeps coming back. .......Heres What I found: Same trouble with a W2K Machine. but I believe I found a solution: the problem [might have been] the installer was hiding inside another exe that borrowed a name from a real program. (in my case "Nero", my CD Burner Software) FYI: You can see what is being launched automatically at bootup with regedit. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run ...and see whats there. I temporarily disabled the launchings one-by-one by altering the paths. Method: Backing up Registry, then alter path, then use many searches + these tools to clean up: Explorer (hint: look under programfiles) to delete suspicious folders, TaskManager to detect processes running and WindowsUninstaller to uninstall programs. after 3 reboots it hasnt been back. Good luck.

Microsoft spyware is in my opinion better than those adaware or spybot progs, cos MS is proactive and detects spyware before it installs or registers.

The best spyware program that also works with your anti-virus program is pest patrol. You can download it online

I would have to disagree with that statement! You would trust microsoft spyware removal tools? Think again! Microsoft will not detect and remove itself. When you do a fresh install of XP or 2000 there are 9 spyware related things that Spy bot removes. Same goes with the built in firewall. Enough with MS bashing. Do this: run msconfig go to the startup tab and uncheck everything you don't know what it is. re-boot Install Spy bot S&D 1.3, install Teatimer, immune your system, download all updates, then scan your computer. re-boot run msconfig again, and go to the startup tab. see how clean it is. remember it! Joeteck Joeteck CompTIA A+ Certification