While in Internet Explorer, go to "Tools" and then "Internet Options..."  Delete the cookies, delete the files & offline files, and clear the history.  Then, run these programs in the order that they are listed.

SPYWARE REMOVAL

Spybot Search & Destoy - Free Program & Updates... safe to remove anything that it finds

Ad-Aware - Free Program & Updates... safe to remove anything that it finds

Spysweeper - Free 30 Day Trial with Updates... safe to remove anything that it finds... consider purchasing this program when the trial is over

CWShredder - Free Program that removes Cool Web Search from your computer... delete everything that it finds

BHO Demon - Free Program that removes objects attached to Internet Explorer... disable everything that it finds

Hijack This - Free Program that removes objects related to Internet Explorer... make sure to only remove "O4" entries if they look very suspicious, all of the others can be safely removed

RESET INTERNET CONNECTION

Hoster - Free Program to reset your hosts file... use this if you are still getting pop-up ads after you run all of the spyware removal programs

LSP Fix - Free Program that fixes LSP problems... if Hijack This finds something that says "LSP"... you can remove that file with this program... NOTE: Only run this if Hijack This finds an LSP problem

WinSock Fix - Free program that resets your internet connection... use this if you get "Page Can Not Be Displayed" errors... NOTE: Only use this if you are connected to the internet and can not view web pages

VIRUS REMOVAL

Housecall Anti-Virus Scan - Free website to scan your computer for viruses, and remove the viruses

Norton Anti-Virus Scan - Free website to scan your computer for viruses, and directions for removing the viruses can be found with the "Search" feature on Norton's website

FIREWALL PROTECTION

Sygate Firewall - Free firewall to protect your computer from the majority of hackers... allow all of the windows files & your programs to access the internet (it will prompt you for these when you first start the program), and make sure to block anything from a "remote machine"

RECOMMENDATIONS

Go to "Settings," "Control Panel," then "Add / Remove Programs" to remove any other suspicious programs that were installed.

Try not to install any P2P (Person 2 Person) programs like Kazaa, Morpheus, or WinMX.  These programs put spyware on your computer, and the spyware must remain there for these programs to work.

Kazaa BeGone - Free program that will remove Kazaa and all of the spyware that accompanies it.  WARNING: Make sure to back up all of your music, as it will erase all of the Kazaa directories.

FURTHERMORE

If you have run all of these programs, and you are still getting pop-up ads, take your computer to a technician to have them removed.  Otherwise, back up every important file on your computer, and place the "Operating System Restore" disk into your CD-ROM drive, and turn your computer off, then turn it back on, and follow the instructions.