Search in XP Pro not functioning correctly

XP Pro: Opened search and it keeps trying to install Microsoft Office 2000 Pro,which I don't have and never did. Search has never acted like this before, and am wondering what I may have picked up on the net that is doing this.
Have done the Spybot Search & Destroy a couple of times and cleaned the machine as best I know how..still does it.
Just recently started using Google Chrome and was wondering if that caused some of this problem.
I like XP Pro and will probably be forced to upgrade to Win 7, but until then, I would like to be able to fix this problem. Also did a copy of the screen to save the error for future reference.
Did a search here and couldn't find anything that was close to this.
Thank you again,
Rob

 

Hi Rob, I've just started my XP Pro comp and opened Search and it looks normal to me.
When you say it tries to install MS Office Pro 2000 - does this show request to Run the software? Neil.

 

It just started acting that way. When you open search, it starts trying to install Microsoft Office 2000 Pro, which I have never owned, nor been on this machine.
Can't get it to stop until I open task manager and force it to stop and shut down. Must have picked up something somewhere, but the Spybot Search & Destroy program hasn't found anything that fixes it. Will probably have to do a full re-install to get rid of this pest.
Any idea on what would cause the change ?
Thank you,
Rob

 

Have you had a look in your Downloads to see if there is an entry?
Anything showing in Add & Remove Programs?
Did you have an MS Update with MS Office 2000 Pro install/try? Neil.

 

I don't think Spybot is quite the program that it used to be. I would recommend a full scan with Malware Bytes, and maybe try running a scan with Adwcleaner, too, to see what they pull up.

 

Thank you. Did a full scan with Malware Bytes and cleaned out many problems, but the MS Office is still trying to install. Apparently something got corrupted in the registry, and I don't know much about editing the registry. Need to find a book on how to work on the registry. Will try the Adwcleaner also.
Thanks for your help.
Rob

 

The Windows Search feature does not work correctly, you receive script errors in Internet Explorer, or some information is missing after you upgrade to Windows XP or after you uninstall Norton SystemWorks 2003 from a Windows XP-based computer

Looks like Mr.Fixit is required. Neil.

 

What I will probably do is a complete re-install on this machine. Have a new machine coming with Win 7 Pro installed, so this one can be relegated to secondary use.
Thanks again,
Rob