Ref your earlier question Ciaran. What's this? 8 - Extra context menu item: &eBay Search - res://C:\Program Files\eBay\eBay

Toolbar2\eBayTb.dll/RCSearch.html
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program

I don't have an ebay toolbar although obviously I do use ebay.

Also lots of references to Roxio P2P service or similar. The only Roxio I have is a cd copier. The cd came as a freebie with a drive I bought. So I installed it but don't remember reading anything about P2P.

Cheers,

Dave.

on the subject of AV - I'm just trying out Avast! as I needed something for the new Winwoes-Home-Server I've just bought (HP EX475). Basically runs W2k3 SBS with a custom front-end to make it easier for home users.

Decided to take the plunge even with reported data corruption issues as I needed more storage and this gives auto-backup with bare-metal restore capability too.

Avast has picked up a load of file issues (broken CAB and ZIP files) as well as reporting half a dozen trojans that AVG has not reported up to now, and these files had been on the original server for some time. Expect the broken files were a result of the total server corruption a year ago after the other half powered off the server in the middle of a disk scan.... ho hum, hence the backup requirement.

Will let you know how it goes with Avast if interested - seems you can register for free home use too.

regards
Dave

Hi Dave,

A couple of people I know on another forum tried Avast and they are happy with it.

Just goes to show with AVG. What the hell does it do all day?

thanks, that's good to know.

Am thinking of buying it at £95 for 3 years - family-pro pack so can have 1x WHS and 10x pro client users too. not too bad a price, not that I really need 10x users...

Hi Dave,

The Ebay toolbar thing is pretty benign, I'm guessing its been on there at some point in the past, even if its not in existence now. Its actually an item that appears on the right-click context menu, which allows you to search ebay straight from your popup menus, rather than having to goto the site. Its harmless though, as is all the Roxio CD writing stuff.

Ciarán

I support a variety of manky old PCs inherited from a variety of sources at work. I tend to use a combination of AVG and Avira AntiVir and I've noticed that very often one will spot something that the other has missed. A belt-and-braces approach might be best - both together are more effective and use less system resources than the sodding Anti-Norton Virus.

At home I use a Mac...

Would you believe it Castle Cops has crashed! The server went down so they moved to backup then there were some file problems now a 3ware card has failed and they're waiting for one to be shipped in!

Still I am using the desktop again now. After what seemed like dozens of scans over a ten day period its running ok now and regular AV scans aren't picking anything up.

My only problem is a damaged internet connection. I think something probably got deleted in the panic and it should have been kept. And now I can't find my Windoze disc to repair IE. Number one son (who borrows everything!) definitely hasn't got it. He definitely didn't have my MS Office either but strangely found that last week!

IE is erratic, sometimes it connects, sometimes it doesn't. I'm using Slim Browser most of the time but I can't do a search! Only use my Favourites. The laptop is still fine.

Demaq, can you ping your gateway, if so whats the packet loss like? How about the DNS servers? If you have a router, can you ping your routers's gateway? You will need to use a DOS box and be able to interpret the output from ipconfig/all to do this.

Did you try firefox instead of IE?

I think (hope!) I have now got to the bottom of it all. I did try Firefox Dr Tim and that was erratic like IE. I ran another full SuperAntiSpyware scan yesterday and that was clear. I was running out of options yesterday and clicked on WinPatrol. I was idly clicking buttons and checking the info that came up when I clicked on the "Hosts" button. Well there were about 500 adware sites on there! General junk, porn, the lot. I was amazed. I started searching on the laptop and found some references to hijacked host files. I eventually came across HostExpert which I downloaded. I ran it and it gave me the option of reinstalling the original XP host file which I did. Rebooted and I can now surf and connect no problem.

All being well thats the end of it now.

demaq, so it was malware messing with your system network settings then. hmmm.

I suggest

Firstly back up your data immediately, too several media and preferably several types of media (DVD, USB stick, USB hard drive).

Then either:

If you can't bear to wipe your disk or just reinstall windows without wiping it then get hold of rootkit scanners and run them

or:

If you can't bear to wipe your harddrive then reinstall windows without wiping. Then reinstall your apps (you do have all the disks and keys dont you?)

or:

Reinstall windows initializing the disk (or maybe just bung another disk ion there and keep the original for safety) from media, reinstall apps etc. This is the only way to be SURE that ALL the nastiness has gone.

Soddin internet's playing up again. It's not the pc it's Mr Branson! I keep losing the cable led. It seems it's getting regular at weekends now which is bloody annoying.

The 3 network are now doing a broadband dongle that connects any where in the 3 network so I've signed up for that. £10/month with 1Gig download limit. Well I rarely download stuff anyway so it'll do as a standby when Virgin media is down again

It's usb just plug n play in the laptop.