First time!: Here goes. I am using my mothers computer because I can not access the internet on my computer. I click on the A.O.L. shortcut on my table top and I get the error message that the "c:\windows\system\wininet.dll file" is missing or not availble. When I try to open the Spybot shortcut or the Adaware shortcut, I get the same answer. So far everything else is working.
How did this happen...? My couriosity got the better of me and I attempted to enter one of those..well... you know one of THOSE sites! Anyway, a bunch of messages started to pop up and somewhere in there I saw a note about a specific Trojan being detected. I have not seen that message again and I failed to write down the name of the specific Trojan. After doing a "find" on the "wininet.dll" file, it was located in the Norton quaranteed file. I think the Norton software found a trojan and this file was infected. How do I clean the file and return it? Or, how do I get another fill?
Seven

WININET.DLL is a module that gets replaced in the Internet Explorer Security Updates, and is sometimes used as a name to hide older Virus and Trojan modules.

See if you can boot the system into Safe Mode. Before the initial Windows ME splash screen hold down the Ctrl key or the F8 key and at the Boot Menu select Safe Mode. If it does the same thing in Safe Mode, then it will be necessary to try booting with a Startup boot diskette.

There should be a copy of WININET.DLL in the C:\Windows\System folder. If you have the latest Internet Explorer Security Updates, it should be dated 02-18-2005.

Check to see if there is a copy of WININET.DLL in the C:\Windows folder also. There should NOT be a copy of C:\Windows\WININET.DLL, if there is, it could be causing problems and might be a Virus or Trojan. If you find a copy in C:\Windows folder, rename it to WININET.BAD and make sure you have a copy in C:\Windows\System folder.

The next thing you need to do is to run a good Virus scan.

If you can boot into Safe Mode, but do not find a copy of WiniNET.dll in the C:\Windows folder, try doing a REPAIR of IE.

To REPAIR IE 6.0, go to Control Panel, Add/Remove icon, and select (highlight) the entry for "Microsoft Internet Explorer ... and Internet Tools" and then click the Add/Remove button at the bottom of the window. On the options window, select the "Repair Internet Explorer" option and click OK. When it is done reboot the system.

I want to thank everyone who helped or wanted to. Turns out that I did not need the help. I have the knowledged provided but was rescued by a neighbor. During my complaining about the problem a neighbor (works in data processing) offered to come to my rescue. IT took a little while, but I am all WELL now. Again, thanks!!

Seven