Can't go to any url directly - get 'IE could not open search page' error

[mustang]

My browser has been fine for the past six months. Then,
just last week, I noticed a "Search the Web!" box
displayed in the top right hand corner of my desktop. I
cannot move it or remove it. Then, I found that typing
in urls, such as www.ebay.com, started automatically
redirecting me to adult websites. I searched and found
my assumed issue and removed it via add/remove programs.
However, now I have an issue where I cannot type any
url's in and actually have the browser render the site.
Instead, I get an error dialogue box that says "Internet
Explorer could not open search page" - and the url
changes to: http://vrape.hardloved.com/top/search.php?
id=2&s=?%20www.google.com (in this case I tried to go to
google). I can however do browser searches and get to
places by clicking links.

Has anybody had this happen to them? Any idea what I can
do to fix it?

 

[YoKenny]

My browser has been fine for the past six months. Then,
just last week, I noticed a "Search the Web!" box
displayed in the top right hand corner of my desktop. I
cannot move it or remove it. Then, I found that typing
in urls, such as www.ebay.com, started automatically
redirecting me to adult websites. I searched and found
my assumed issue and removed it via add/remove programs.
However, now I have an issue where I cannot type any
url's in and actually have the browser render the site.
Instead, I get an error dialogue box that says "Internet
Explorer could not open search page" - and the url
changes to: http://vrape.hardloved.com/top/search.php?
id=2&s=?%20www.google.com (in this case I tried to go to
google). I can however do browser searches and get to
places by clicking links.

Has anybody had this happen to them? Any idea what I can
do to fix it?

A few people have reported getting infected with this browser hijacker
parasite.

Get HijackThis from this page and follow the directions there.
http://www.tomcoyote.org/hjt/

The forum at http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/ shows quite a few entries if
you search on vrape.hardloved