unwanted program download from internet

There are some unwanted adult links that appear on my toolbar in internet explorer. I delete them each time I log on & they reappear the next time. I have done a search & deleted all files that mention adult things. I finally discovered a program in my downloaded programs file titled adult links and listed as installed that I found by accident, because it didn't show up in a search. I tried to remove it and/or delete it, but get an error saying that it is in use by another program and can't be deleted. I shut down everything but explorer which keeps my computer running by using the task manager and still get the same message. In the properties for this program there are three programs listed that it requires to run, but I can't find them in downloaded programs or by running a search. There's QCBAR. INF, ALLCH.DLL, and QCBAR.DLL. How do I get rid of the program and the other files it needs to run?

 

Copied from a Usenet post:

I'd suggest that you run Spybot and a virus scan too.

HTH.

 

It worked!!

Thank you so much. I am sooooo thrilled!! It worked. I couldn't get the DOS prompt commands you suggested to work, but it is gone. I checked the downloaded program files & nothing there. I tried downloading the spybot program from the links you provided, but they appear to be zip files & I don't have a zip drive. Any suggestions?

 

Super!

Zip utilities? ICEOWS and Freezip are both rather nice (and free!). ICEOWS has more features than FreeZip and is a slightly larger download. FrreZip is slightly easier to use than ICEOWS - in fact, it's so easy to use that our dog is able to unzip files

 

ppmint: You can download a self installing version of Spybot from: Here

Click on the Version 1.1 Rel 3 with installer.

When downloaded double click the "spybotsd11r3.exe" file to install. Once installed open the program click on the "Online" button then click on "Search for updates" at the top of the screen, select the updates then click on the download button. This will download the updates for Spybot. You do not need to download all the language updates. Then run the program a couple of times to remove any spyware. Have a look at what it is suggesting to remove and uncheck anything that you might think should not be checked for removal. Anything with a red ! mark is usually safe to remove. Green ! are optional. Spybot makes a recovery backup so if you accidently remove something your system needs, you can put it back.

Good luck.

 

Thank you Brett re: free zip files. I've downloaded the ICEOWS just 'cuz I don't know how to run a zip program. Another question, though regarding the deletion of the link & program files. I get an error message when I log on about a missing java object. I'm assuming it's because I couldn't do the DOS portion of your instructions. When I got the DOS prompt C:\Windows> I typed in this exact text del "96WinDir96\ Downloaded Program Files\allch.dll" I got the message that it was too many parameters. Should I have left out the " "? Also, just wondering if you know....I bought a printer & scanner for Christmas that require 466Mhz processing speed & I have 1/2 that. What can I do without incurring LOTS of money? Do I need to add a card of some sort?

 

Thank you John. I must be blonde today. I was at that site & missed the self installing version!! I was watching the Vikings win their final game of the year & trying to straighten out my computer at the same time. I downloaded it & got a settings page. Where do I start with the set up?

 

Just leave the settings at the default until you get used to the program and have some time to read the help files. Should do your cleanup OK at default settings.

 

Thanks so much!

I like the thought of that! Thank you for all your help!!!

 

You're welcome, post back and let us know how you make out.

 

It's "%WinDir% ... not "96WinDir96"

 

WOW

I had to look really close at the % signs! They could still pass for 96 in your letter. Now that I see the 96 typed out it's pretty obvious, though! Thank you for the clarification. I'm at work now, but will try when I get home. A couple of questions, though. First I get an error message when I boot up re: java object not found. Any clues? Also Internet explorer says connection to internet not found cancel? retry? When I retry I get on OK. Just a couple of annoying things that don't appear to have really hurt anything. Can they be easily fixed?