Cannot open window update plus more

[Cojack]

I am helping a friend with his computer and he has several
problems, one of which is he cannot open the windows
update web page. If I go backdoor throught the MS support
page, I can open the page but it will not search his
computer for updates. This may be realated to several
other probelms he is experiencing. Can't send email
through Outlook Express when he attempts to send email,
his computer locks up nad the process needs to be stopped
(But he can receive email OK), Can't open web pages he
previously was able to open (I can open them on my
computer) I reloaded windows 2000 and it didn't help.
There4 is a message on the toolbar in IE 5
reading "finalizing installation"???? He says he installed
Bellsouth.net's accelerator software but thought it
completed succesfully. He has hotbar and it looks like
the "Finalizing installation" statement is on the hotbar
toolbar. I attempted to remove hotbar via the control
panel in add/remove programs but NO programs are
listed???? Could be a hotbar issue that adds a toolbar to
both IE and Outlook Express but I cannot disable Hotbar?
Any Suggestions?

 

[Fabio]

Hi Cojack

IMHO, Hotbar is quite a nasty piece of spyware. Before doing anything else,
get rid of Hotbar. To do this, download a little utility called 'Spybot'
which will clean spyware from your PC, including Hotbar:

http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?lang=en&page=download (Freeware!)

Now follow the instructions after installing and see if this changes
anything.

NOTE: Google toolbar is a viable alternative to Hotbar
(http://toolbar.google.com/)


Thanks and Regards,

Fabio

 

[Cojack]

I removed Hotbar and added spybot. Cleaned up spyware.
Windows 2000 still messed u. add/remove programs is blank
and the close button does not work. Can't send email
receive ok. can't open windows update and several other
URLs. Reloaded windows 2000, no help. Upgraded ie 5 - ie 6
and oe 5 - oe 6. No help. Other control panel items will
open but no data ie, networking.

-----Original Message-----
Hi Cojack

IMHO, Hotbar is quite a nasty piece of spyware. Before doing anything else,
get rid of Hotbar. To do this, download a little utility called 'Spybot'
which will clean spyware from your PC, including Hotbar:

http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?

lang=en&page=download (Freeware!)