unremovable icons, 180 search assistant, popups

[pyroguy_3]

Ok, i'm trying to fix a dell computer running windows xp professional. It was running with no virus protection (it's not mine...) and no pop up blocker. it is now running the SoHo AVG antivirus and jimmysurf popup blocker. I have tried numerous spyware removal tools and nothing seems to work. Here are the problems i am dealing with: there are seven desktop icons that i can find no way to remove, they are 'travel' 'website hosting' 'bingo' 'casino online' 'printer cartridges' 'card games' and 'poker'. they are also set as unremovable entities on the favorites in ie. Second the 180 search assistant bar appears at the bottom of the screen whenever ie is opened. it also runs as salm.exe i believe. i have taken everything that doesn't belong off of start up with msconfig.exe, but nothing happens. third, there are popups appearing because of the computer being infected, is there any way to get rid of them? i've tried spybot, adaware spy, and another i can't think of. any help would be greatly appreciated. thank you in advance,

Andrew.

 

[ZoneFire]

i think you can try using Lavasoft Ad-adware.
for the 180 Search, you can go to the Add/Remove Program (under Control Panel) and remove it.
Hope this might help...

besides, you can try out eTrust or Kapersky.

 

[southernlady]

pyroguy_3, , follow the instructions in this thread: http://www.techist.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=34713 And post a hijack log when you finish. I am moving this thread to the HiJack Log (Analyze) forum so post when you are ready. Liz

 

[kb-resq]

I had a sililiar problem and this resolved it:

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

 

[pyroguy_3]

microsoft antivirus

great! the microsoft antivirus worked like a charm! thanks a lot!

 

[southernlady]

So I can close this one? Liz