Thanks for the advice. Have run spybot but not in safe mode. I will give that a shot.

Many thanks for the name of that progam 'SmitFraudFix'. It appears to have done the job, and its FREE!!! I am most greatful to you!!!
I had previously tried many others without any success.
Thanks again !!

Gald you got it sorted without the dreaded format.

Happy to have helped.

I think that I have spoken to soon!....The dreaded adverts have returned.
I guess its back to the drawing board!

While its probably spyware/adware...

I've noticed a couple of sites recently that I know do NOT have any kind of popup ads opening up another page when I use IE to browse them (but not firefox - which I have locked down tighter than IE) - comparing the page source between a direct connection and tunneling through my dedicated server shows the header to have been modified with some javascript to open the extra page on the connection without the secure tunnel... hopefully it was just a freak one off thing - I know my PC is clean - if it happens again I will have to remember to document it.

Please keep me posted on the outcome.
Thanks.

Yup, AVG covered something like this in one of their recent video showcases. Could be a root-kit try downloading AVG Anti-Rootkit, you could also try their anti-spyware both are free. Their latest product which you have to pay for is very good with some nice features.

On that you could try contacting your AV vendor as they are likely to know whats causing it and how to remove it.

Thanks for the ideas. I will give it a try. One minute a think I have cured the problem but back it comes. Its something imbedded in this laptop as the other computers are all fine. As I'm writing this reply a page advertising Ringtone has appeared. GRRRRRR

TROJAN REMOVER checks for rootkit. I found it excellent for clearing a similar problem some time ago.

It can be downloaded from www.simplysup.com. It is free for 30 days and only �15 if you wish to buy.

Well worth a try.

Thanks for the advise. I have run the suggested program which picked up on a couple of hidden embedded .exe files in the root which I have removed. So far....all appears to be ok but I have been down this road before..I will let you know......again ...many thanks!