Can't get rid of spyware - please help! - Page 2

10-16-03, 06:13 PM

did you install the adware remover and run it? i'm sure thats what the problem is

JmE · 10-16-03, 06:17 PM

Did you change your homepage back to something normal after you did that or did you leave it at searchv.com?

-JmE-

dellaximboy · 10-16-03, 06:23 PM

changed it.

JmE · 10-16-03, 06:28 PM

You really should go to Google and look at some sites that deal specifically with this type of issue. That is where you will find the more specialized help on this problem.

I am concerned because removing this type of problem is not a "I did everything and it is still there" type of operation. You need to carefully and systematically go through and attempt to remove ALL peices and remenants. Frankly, you have been posting too quickly (in my opinion) to have done a complete job of it.

My point is, if you really, really want to fix it, take the time and patience that it requires to do so and you have a much greater chance of being sucessful.

good luck with it.

-JmE-

AximJoe · 10-16-03, 06:29 PM

Try this too...
Posted on WinXPnews.com

Browser Start Page Hijacked by Searchv.com

Question: My default homepage for IE is Earthlink. A few days ago it somehow changed to someplace called SearchV.

Seemed like an easy fix to go to Internet Options on the General Tab and fix it. Well, what happens is that anytime I do a reboot or a fresh start up it still somehow defaults back to SearchV.

Any thoughts-help-advise-comments-etc. would be most appreciated. - D. McF.

Answer: Searchv is a well known browser "hijacker." It's likely that your Registry has been changed. Caution: always be careful when editing the registry. Here's how to check:

Click Start | Run and type regedit to open the Registry Editor.
Navigate to this key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main.
In the right pane, look for an entry called Start Page. Double click it.
In the Value Data box, if the URL is http://www.searchv.com/, that's your culprit. Change it to your desired start page.
Click OK and close the Registry Editor.

JmE · 10-16-03, 06:33 PM

Yes, that link had about changing that registry key also (I believe).....

-JmE-

JmE · 10-16-03, 06:35 PM

Maybe it wasn't on that page, but shortly within the links and info, it is there....

-JmE-

10-16-03, 06:42 PM

sounds like it may work dellaxkid

10-16-03, 06:43 PM

dellaximboy, whatever

10-16-03, 06:47 PM

AximJoe posted it correctly, if you cleaned out your Temp Internet Files and then cleaned out your cookies and are still getting Hi-Jacked, you will have to go in and edit your Registry. You have to be very careful as this can 'Royally' Screw up your computer but the easier way is to click on your run, then type in "regedit" click on the first key and then click Ctrl + F, and then type in the name of the offending site, and then click OK, it will search your entire registry and will, one entry at a time find the entries with the name of SearchV. You will have to remove them, if you have not already downloaded a program that will find them for you! Another good program that works is called SpyBot and it is free. You have to go to downloads at ZDnet.com and then do a search for SpyBot but it is also good for removing offending spyware from your registry! Hope this helps you!

dellaximboy · 10-16-03, 06:51 PM

To my (and probably yours, too)............. NOTHING!!! The registry keeps changing back to searchv!!!

10-16-03, 07:03 PM

then just clean install windows. :rolling:

dellaximboy · 10-16-03, 07:06 PM

I'm not gonna reinstall windows just cause my homepage doesn't work. 3 reasons:
1. Don't wanna lose any info I have.
2. Don't have Windows XP Pro CD.
2.Too lazy.

AximJoe · 10-16-03, 07:14 PM

When you run ad-aware (run it again) does it find any listings??

dellaximboy · 10-16-03, 07:17 PM

yes but it doesn't fix any thing