Can only bring up search engine four times, then I have to restart PC.

[Spoiler]

I think he maybe over thinking this....

You can run Firefox and IE on the same machine at the same time. So just go ahead and open IE and test to see if you get the same problem. If you do then most likely you don't have to uninstall Firefox.

As far as SP3 goes....just download and install it. It really is that easy. Nothing to uninstall or change. The only thing I would suggest is to backup your files before you start just in case.

You can get it here

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=5b33b5a8-5e76-401f-be08-1e1555d4f3d4&displaylang=en

Or just do a windows update and pick it to download.

[polecat]

Cannot gain access to Internet explorer, its not responding at all, something I probably did wrong. Have not used it for years.
Anyway, downloaded Opera and made it the default browser. This cured the problem. Now I don’t have to do a restart every fifth time I click on Google! But a new problem has appeared in it’s stead.                                                                                                       
When I use Opera as the default browser, every time I click on Google (or any other search engine), a dialog box appears mid-screen with the following message……………..

“Windows cannot find  ‘http://www.google.co.uk/webhp?hl=en&tab=nw’
Make sure you typed so & so correctly, then try again. To search for a file, click start button, and then click search.”

Clicking on OK makes the message disappear, so no problem here.


Then I returned to using Firefox as the default browser. The original fault has gone from here also!
And there is no dialog box message with Firefox. Any idea what has happened?
The fault has disappeared, or has it just reappeared in a different way?

Spoiler wrote....
As far as SP3 goes....just download and install it. It really is that easy. Nothing to uninstall or change. The only thing I would suggest is to backup your files before you start just in case.

Thanks for the download link. Had some doubts about this, as I am reaching the stage where it probably be best do a recovery Install.
Still don't understand what is meant by 'do a slipstream of the upgrade to a new cd and use that for the installation'.

[Allan]

Please follow the instructions in the following link and post your logs in the thread you create (NOT in this thread):
http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,46313.0.html

[polecat]

Just after my last post I upgraded to SP3. Then I checked for and read your last post to me. Thank you for informing me of latest problem on my p.c.  Have begun reading spyware/malware page and noticed it said better to not upgrade from SP1 to SP2 prior to troubleshooting.  Its a bit late to undo my SP3 update now, but will that update cause problems?
Also, it said a full scan should be done prior to going ahead. I clicked on my AVG shortcut, but cannot open it. This looks kind of ominous. I will have to get rid of that a/v software and install another.

[reddevilggg]

 
Can you open AVG from toolbar?

If no luck try Avast, i've been running it for about a year with no problems.

[Allan]

No problem with sp3 - you should always run the latest service pack.

[polecat]

 I could not open AVG from toolbar (there was no visible toolbar). I tried to remove AVG using the 'Add or remove programs' application.
It would not remove it, it just kept trying to install it. I found the AVG folder and deleted all the files, then emptied the recycle bin. Probably did wrong here, as AVG files were about 65Mb.  STEP A:    Downloaded AVAST like you suggested and proceeded to do a full scan. Eventually this came to a stop and showed at the bottom:  Infected files 0.  It also said 'Unable to scan all files'.     Played with the 'buttons' a bit and brought up a screen with four items it had found from the scan. Message said 'click on *****  to keep or remove'.  Cannot remember the words. Would have to do another scan to see what it said........
STEP B:   Firewalls: Have checked to see if the firewall utility that comes with Windows is activated, and it is. I will download a third party firewall next and then switch the Windows one off. 
 

[patio]

There is an AVG uninstaller tool at their site...which should be used.

[polecat]

Have checked AVG site online and can see no uninstaller tool................but it must be too late now to use it?

Have switched off Windows firewall and downloaded Sygate Personal Firewall.
But dialogue boxes keep popping up with messages like "Do you want to allow this program to access the network?" I did not get this on the Windows firewall. It's happening all the time, you cannot keep answering yes or no all the time.

[patio]

It's Right here...

[polecat]

Thanks for link. Used it and got little window with lots of DOS whizzing by. Do not know for sure whether it's managed to rid the drive of AVG remnants but I hope it's not made anything worse! http://www.computerhope.com/forum/Smileys/classic/smiley.gif

[patio]

RE-boot.

[polecat]

Reboot?   Sorry, but nothing came of this…

Will start Recovery Steps now. 

Step A:  Antivirus
Deleted AVG  as described earlier post.
Installed AVAST as described earlier post
(BELARC report is stating both AVG and AVAST a/v programs are installed and Realtime File scanning on in both cases. But AVG cannot be running after how I disposed of it).


Step B:  Firewall
Switched off Windows firewall.
Installed SYGATE Personal Firewall.
(Noticed on computer last night that some (don’t know which) program was stating that two firewalls were running. How can I find out if there is another (third) firewall on the pc?)

Step1:  Add or Remove Programs.
Have removed a couple of programs that were of no use.
There are Icons remaining which are not removable, messages are like “File c\Program files **** does not exist. Cannot uninstall.” or “Deploy log which is needed to perform the uninstall is missing…”. These are remains of programs deleted long ago.
There are several programs which may be ok to uninstall, bearing in mind SP2 was recently upgraded to  SP3, some of the programs may no longer be needed. I list some of them here, as you people will know which are needed or not.

MSXML 4.0 SP2  (KB927978)                            2.56MB
MSXML 4.0 SP2  (KB936181)                            2.62MB
MSXML 4.0 SP2  (KB954430)                            2.67MB
MSXML 4.0 SP2  (KB973688)                            2.77MB
MSXML 4.0 SP2  Parser and SDK                       0.04MB
MSXML 6 Service Pack 2 (KB973686)               1.40MB

Microsoft  .NET Framework  1.1
Microsoft  .NET Framework  2.0 Service Pack 2      185.00MB
Microsoft  .NET Framework  3 0 Service Pack 2      179.00MB
Microsoft  .NET Framework  3.5 SP1                         28.06MB


Microsoft Visual C++2005 ATL Update kb973923 - x86         0.11MB
8.0.50727.4053

Microsoft Visual C++2005 Redistributable                               5.25MB

Microsoft Visual C++2008 ATL Update kb973923 - x86         0.15MB
9.0.30729.4148

Microsoft Visual C++2008  Redistributable - x86 9.0.21022    6.68MB

Microsoft Visual C++2008  Redistributable - x86                    10.19MB
9.0.30729.4148

 

[patio]

You can safely remove all of them...

[polecat]

Hello,    Have just uninstalled all the programs listed in my last post with the exception of
MSXML 6 Service Pack 2 (KB973686)               1.40MB   
It won’t uninstall, it keeps bringing up the message:  Fatal error during installation

Also, Microsoft  .NET Framework  2.0 Service Pack 2      185.00MB would not uninstall straight away.  It  kept  returning the message           above cannot be uninstalled because it will affect other apps. that are installed. For more info see:  http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?Linkld=91126.
It did eventually uninstall when the others had gone.
Thanks again for your help, I will carry on to Step 2 now, if that's ok !