EVERY time I try to run Ad-Aware on my PC after about 10 seconds I get this box that pops up and says that my system has to restart. It has a message that says "windows must now restart because the DCOM server process launcher service terminated unexpectedly." Any ideas? Nate

sounds suspicious of a virus/spyware, but couldn't be certain. Have you tried running your Adaware scan (and also a virus scan) in Safe Mode? do you get the same error/pop-up? Thanks.

I have not tried in safe mode.. i'll do that right now and post results.. thank you for replying so fast! Nate

just my 2 pence (sorry you all say cents and i felt homesick) these may help 1st step , run a virus check from all of these . Online Virus check ( free ) http://housecall.antivirus.com/ http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ http://www.cybertechhelp.com/html/misc/av.php http://www.pandasoftware.es/activescan/activescan-com.asp http://www.ravantivirus.com/scan/ http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/licence.php http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/home.asp?j=1&langid=ie&venid=sym&close_parent=true&plfid=23&pkj=HXJDYNBRFNJSVSTIVVB System Restore option in Windows Me/XP http://www.augustana.ab.ca/other/cns/virus/ http://www.adamtj.org/repository/howto/W32.Blaster.Worm/ Users of Windows Me and Windows XP should temporarily turn off System Restore. Windows Me/XP uses this feature, which is enabled by default, to restore the files on your computer in case they become damaged. If a virus, worm, or Trojan infects a computer, System Restore may back up the virus, worm, or Trojan on the computer. Windows prevents outside programs, including antivirus programs, from modifying System Restore. Therefore, antivirus programs or tools cannot remove threats in the System Restore folder. As a result, System Restore has the potential of restoring an infected file onto your computer, even after you have cleaned the infected files from all the other locations. Also, a virus scan may detect a threat in the System Restore folder even though you have removed the threat. For instructions on how to turn off System Restore, read your Windows documentation, or one of the following articles: How to turn off or turn on Windows XP System Restore http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001111912274039?OpenDocument&src=sec_doc_nam ===================================== Free online Spyware detector Click on > Scan without registering http://www.pestscan.com/ Screen for Adware, Spyware, Scumware, Diallers, ’Jackers and other unsolicited commercial software . Remove Spyfiles by using these 5 programs . Make sure you use the SpyBot/SpywareBlaster/Ad-aware/Bazooka/Swat It > Online > Update button regularly . SpyBot http://beam.to/spybotsd Once you have the program installed , open SpyBot and select the "Immunize" icon on the left & Click on Immunize , in the new page . Permanently running bad download blocker for Internet Explorer . Select > Block all bad pages silently & click Install . Then check the box "lock hosts file read-only as protection against hijackers". SpyBot lock host files greyed out If it doesn't have a hosts file you cant lock it, so that tweak will be grayed out. Have SpyBot install its hosts file. http://www.zerosrealm.com/immunizing.php Note: For those running in "Basic" mode you will NOT see this. You must be running in Advanced mode! To get in advanced mode, a really easy way is to go to Start >> All Programs >> Spybot Search and Destroy >> Spybot Search and Destroy (advanced). Click it. You are now in advanced mode. Select your download site . Open Spybot Search and Destroy. After clicking the button that says "Search for Updates" you will see 5 items near the top of the window, "Search for Updates", "Download Updates", UniDo(Europe), "Show Log" and "Help". Next to UniDo(Europe) you will see a "down" arrow. Click the "down" arrow and you will see download site choices (3 in Europe, 1 in USA and 1 in Australia). SpywareBlaster http://www.wilderssecurity.net/spywareblaster.html SpywareBlaster doesn't scan and clean for spyware - it prevents it from ever being installed. Freeware Ad-aware http://www.lavasoft.de/ http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ All software offered on this page is free* to download and use and compatible with Windows 98/ME/NT40, Windows 2000 and Windows XP Home and Professional. Download sites . http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10045910.html?part=69274&subj=dlpage&tag=button http://majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=506 Bazooka http://www.webgrid.co.uk/security_2.html http://www.winsite.com/bin/Info?17000000037943 http://www.kephyr.com/ Bazooka is freeware and Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP compatible Click on the files found & you will be taken to a site that will show you how to remove , either with a program or manually . It reports on all drives & partitions , so remember to check all these , when doing manual remove . After the Download - It is important to remember that once the installation of Bazooka is completed , that you should update the File Signatures by clicking on the Update tab and check for an update . Make sure you Update regularly . Swat It http://swatit.org/ Swat It is a Completely FREE program that scans your files for Trojans, Worms, Bots and other Hacker programs. Swat It can detect and remove over 4000 different Trojan programs plus variants. Swat It was recently independently tested against popular commercial scanning software and we were absolutely delighted by the results. After the Download - It is important to remember that once the installation of Swat It is completed, that you should update the File Signatures by clicking on the Update tab and check for an update. All Product and File Signature Updates are Totally FREE, this means that you will never have to pay a single penny to get the very latest version of Swat It or to update the File Signatures. Athlon xp 2000+ @1.7 pc 2100 256mb ram radeon 8500 win xp home oem several other things new pc on way

Thanks for all of the help. I ran Ad-aware and virus check in safe mode and it seems to be OK now. Nate