in my add/remove programs list, some programs are listed that i know are bogus, but it won't let me uninstall, instead an error pops up. here's the programs:

Home Search Assistent
Search Extender
Shopping Wizard

and the error message is:

Unable to open " ".

and in the quotes it says some website link, something like:

http://looking-for.cc/uninstall/Home...Assistant.html
(in case ... appears, the end is HomeSearchAssistant.html)

OR

http://looking-for.cc/uninstall/SearchExtender.html

OR

http://looking-for.cc/uninstall/ShoppingWizard.html

depending on which program i try to uninstall. also, another thing that keeps appearing is "TV Media", but it allows me to uninstall it, yet it keeps reappearing. if my Hijack This log helps, here:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.98.0
Scan saved at 4:39:18 PM, on 6/30/2004
Platform: Windows XP (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 (6.00.2600.0000)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\brsvc01a.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\brss01a.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Brmfrmps.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\VS7Debug\mdm.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\BRMFRSMG.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\sistray.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\keyhook.exe
D:\Program Files\Scansoft\PaperPort\pptd40nt.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_01\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\sdkcl.exe
D:\Program Files\Scansoft\PaperPort\SmartUI\SmartUI.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\crne32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE
D:\Program Files\Hijack This\HijackThis.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = res://C:\WINDOWS\system32\hsjqd.dll/sp.html#37794
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = res://hsjqd.dll/index.html#37794
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = res://hsjqd.dll/index.html#37794
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = res://C:\WINDOWS\system32\hsjqd.dll/sp.html#37794
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = res://C:\WINDOWS\system32\hsjqd.dll/sp.html#37794
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = res://hsjqd.dll/index.html#37794
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R3 - Default URLSearchHook is missing
F0 - system.ini: Shell=
F2 - REG:system.ini: UserInit=C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {B2896EE5-4B15-DA67-2ADD-F9FC8F792B12} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\javarj32.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdxm.ocx
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SiS Tray] C:\WINDOWS\System32\sistray.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SiS Windows KeyHook] C:\WINDOWS\System32\keyhook.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PaperPort PTD] D:\Program Files\Scansoft\PaperPort\pptd40nt.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IndexSearch] D:\Program Files\Scansoft\PaperPort\IndexSearch.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SetDefPrt] D:\Program Files\Brother\Brmfl03a\BrStDvPt.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroCheck] C:\WINDOWS\System32\\NeroCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_01\bin\jusched.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "D:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PestPatrol Control Center] D:\Program Files\PestPatrol (NEW)\PPControl.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CookiePatrol] D:\PROGRA~1\PESTPA~2\CookiePatrol.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [zSPGuard] d:\program files\pjw\spguard\spguard.exe /s /r
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [sdkcl.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\sdkcl.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [uninstal] regsvr32 /u /s image.dll
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SpyKiller] D:\Program Files\SpyKiller\spykiller.exe /startup
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Spyware Begone] D:\Program Files\freescan\freescan.exe -FastScan
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OSA.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: SmartUI.lnk = ?
O6 - HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel present
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - (no file)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - (no file)
O9 - Extra button: AIM - {AC9E2541-2814-11d5-BC6D-00B0D0A1DE45} - D:\Program Files\AIM\aim.exe
O9 - Extra button: ToolbarCop - {A349A035-E26F-454b-ABB4-5208E50E1BE7} - F:\Programs\ToolbarCop.exe (HKCU)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: ToolbarCop - {A349A035-E26F-454b-ABB4-5208E50E1BE7} - F:\Programs\ToolbarCop.exe (HKCU)
O12 - Plugin for .mpg: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\PLUGINS\npqtplugin3.dll
O12 - Plugin for .wav: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\PLUGINS\npqtplugin.dll
O16 - DPF: {1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB} - http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache...tup1.0.0.8.cab
O16 - DPF: {30528230-99F7-4BB4-88D8-FA1D4F56A2AB} (YInstStarter Class) - http://us.dl1.yimg.com/download.yaho.../yinst0401.cab
O16 - DPF: {74D05D43-3236-11D4-BDCD-00C04F9A3B61} (HouseCall Control) - http://a840.g.akamai.net/7/840/537/2...ll/xscan53.cab
O16 - DPF: {F04A8AE2-A59D-11D2-8792-00C04F8EF29D} (Hotmail Attachments Control) - http://by99fd.bay99.hotmail.msn.com/...x/HMAtchmt.ocx

Please stick to your original thread. Posting again only confuses people. Thanks.

owen, first of all, this is a completely different problem. secondly, are you even an admin here? you don't have that type of status on your name, so why are you bossing people around? unless you have a solution, or somehow get admin status, or prove to me you deserve to be adhered to, please leave me alone.

What I am merely saying, is that this problem can be resolved under the other thread because you have posted a Hijack This Log in the other thread.

No I am not a Site Admin. I'm a person who dedicated my time and my knowledge into helping people. Do you have any idea how stressful it is trying to help other people on different forums and maintain a website. I don't get payed for this. I've created my website and help people on forums because I enjoy helping people and I am totally against technical support lines that charge £1 a minute and never resolve an issue. I've put over £250 into my website so that I can help others to resolve issues.

On many of the major internet forums, they are running short of people who can help out others because nobody is willing to help out. Spyware support is overflowing many forums and people get angry and frustrated when nobody replies.

I am not bossing you around. I am trying to keep all your problems in one place so that I can help you.

And it is not a completely different problem, this problem can be resolved under the other thread because its the same spyware causing the same problems.

Nirvana said in the other thread that there are other issues and he will resolve them tommorow. I am trying to help you resolve them now.

Varygoode, owen is in fact a valued member here and like the other Techs he spends a lot of his time helping others. We should be praising efforts to help not being negative, people like Owen, Nirvana, Tassie & Simon are the reason this forum is still here.