windows internet explorer repeatingly popping up

[kdtl61]

Hello,

I just received my gateway laptop back from having the main board replaced.  So, they say any ways.  Turned it on last night and the first thing I did was made sure my mcafee protection was up dated.  Cool.  All set.  Clicked on IE went right to AOL.com clicked to sign in and a different screen came up saying there were not correct certificate to log in safely.  That is not word for word. Something like that.  Then I clicked google and tried to log in there.  Again the same notice came up. Any site I tried to go into gave me that notice.  Never in two years have I had any issues or concerns about these sites.  The warning still gave me an option to open the site or mail.  So, I did and got my aol mail.  As I'm reviewing mail.  IE just keep opening these small aol screens.  Meaning it would keep relaunching it self to the internet.

So, I tried to deal with it last night.  I felt like I was chasing IE all over my screen.  When I went into task manager IE was running at like 585,000 compared to everything else running at 2000,4000 20,000  It was off the charts.  I wanted to end task so bad I could taste it.  Did not do that.  I was able to close the group and shut down.  I want to work on it tonight.

Any suggestions?
Thanks,
K

[BatchFileBasics]

there is a microsoft error page on this:
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/064af181-10b3-49e7-9eb6-ba3f07d888031033.mspx

and does this error appear in any other browsers? firefox, safari, chrome?

[kdtl61]

My gateway is not running any other browsers then IE.  As of last night anyways.  I had the system kept very basic.  I dont like adding anymore down loads then necessary.  I very well my just delete IE 100% and load Mozillia.  I have run for 2 years with IE.  Had other problems but nothing like this. 

What is the best spyware I should use?

I have a feeling it is all driven by a setting being changed since it just came back from the factory.  I just dont know what setting.  I'm going to look at tools and make sure pop ups are blocked.  Then look into a download to help search my system. 

I have had way too many lap top issues in the last few months. 

Thanks for your help,
K

[BatchFileBasics]

Download  HijackThis.exe (HJT)

* Double-click on HJTInstall.
* Click on the Install button.
* It will automatically place HJT in C:\Program Files\TrendMicro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe.
* Upon install, HijackThis should open for you.

* From the desktop open HijackThis.
     * If using Windows Vista, Right-click and Run As Administrator.
* Click on the Do a system scan and save a log file button
* HijackThis will scan and then a log will open in notepad.
    * Copy and Paste the entire contents of the log in your post.