I would do the following (first)
Empty your Internet Explorer Temporary Internet Files and make sure the
maximum size for this is small enough not to cause trouble in the future.
Empty your Temporary Internet Files and shrink the size it stores to a
size between 10MB and 360MB..
- Open ONE copy of Internet Explorer.
- Select TOOLS -> Internet Options.
- Under the General tab in the "Temporary Internet Files" section, do the
following:
- Click on "Delete Cookies" (click OK)
- Click on "Settings" and change the "Amount of disk space to use:" to
something between 10MB and 360MB. (Betting it is MUCH larger right
now.)
- Click OK.
- Click on "Delete Files" and select to "Delete all offline contents"
(the checkbox) and click OK. (If you had a LOT, this could take 2-10
minutes or more.)
- Once it is done, click OK, close Internet Explorer, re-open Internet
Explorer.
(Second) This web site should help you get started at looking through this
list:
How to Uninstall Programs
http://snipurl.com/8v6b
A word of warning - Do NOT uninstall anything you think you MIGHT need
in the future unless you have completed Tip (1) and have the installation
media and proper keys for use backed up somewhere safe!
(Third) I recommend you use at least the first 5. I know that sounds like a
lot,
and you may be saying "But you said earlier that I should clean my system,
now you are telling me to install more software - 5 pieces in fact!" Okay,
I get your point, but please consider that this stuff has prevented the
install of the latest service pack for some people, it has the potential
to slow and crater your PC, it can send your private information around
the world to people you do not know - it is all around BAD.
First - make sure you have NOT installed "Rogue AntiSpyware". There are
people out there who created AntiSpyware products that actually install
spyware of their own! You need to avoid these:
Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm
Also, you can always visit this site..
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
For more updated information.
Then, my suggestion again is that you at least install the first five of
these: (Install, Run, Update, Scan with..)
Lavasoft AdAware (Free and up)
http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download/
(How-to:
http://snipurl.com/atdn )
Spybot Search and Destroy (Free!)
http://www.safer-networking.net/en/download/index.html
(How-to:
http://snipurl.com/atdk )
Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner (Free!)
http://www.kephyr.com/spywarescanner/
(How-to:
http://snipurl.com/ate3 )
SpywareBlaster (Free!)
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html
(How-to:
http://snipurl.com/ate6 )
IE-SPYAD (Free!)
https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/resource.htm
(How-to:
http://snipurl.com/ate7 )
CWShredder (Free!)
http://www.softbasket.com/download/s_8114.shtml
Hijack This! (Free)
http://mjc1.com/mirror/hjt/
( Tutorial:
http://hjt.wizardsofwebsites.com/ )
ToolbarCop (Free!)
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/toolbarcop.htm
Browser Security Tests
http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/
Popup Tester
http://www.popuptest.com/
The Cleaner (49.95 and up)
http://www.moosoft.com/
If used properly, you should have a malware free system now. The last
two of the first five I suggest you install are immunization applications.
None of these programs (in these editions) run in the background unless you
TELL them to. The space they take up and how easy they are to use greatly
makes up for any inconvenience you may be feeling.
If still want to remove the .exe file you can find most if not all by
clicking start, run and typing MSCONFIG the clicking OK and selecting
processes