Trouble with Google/All search engines...

Hi...
I recently removed some viruses from my computer. After I completed those tasks...I tried doing a Google search and it wouldn't work. I've also tried Dogpile, Yahoo, AOL, Alta Vista...etc. I'm not sure what's wrong, but none of them will work. The only way I can view websites through a Google search is by going into the Tools> Internet Options> and changing my home page to


www-google-com/search?hl=en&q=what+I'm+searching+for

(the dashes in the address are there because I'm a new user and can't create an actual link...so "dash = dot.")

There's no other way for me to search...on any site. I'm tired of changing my home page just to do a search. I've already downloaded Firefox and tried that as my primary browser...it didn't work. I need some serious techy advice here. I can't afford to reload windows...there's too many programs that will be scrubbed that I really need.

Please help!!

Newnamator

Well this isn't really the right forum but might I suggest doing further virus/spyware removal with the following tools:

Spybot Search & Destroy - safer-networking.org
hijackthis - hijackthis.de

(note: be careful with hijackthis - do a scan and then paste your logfile into the hijackthis.de website before you start deleting things, if you aren't comfortable using this tool don't risk damaging your operating system)

spywareblaster - javacoolsoftware.com



Good luck!

I would bite the bullet and do a reinstall. What could you have that can't be reinstalled? Every time I do a reinstall I make a list of all the programs I need to install. Now, if I download and install a program I put the installer .exe in a folder named "luggage" on my external HD. That way I don't have to spend hours downloading everything again.

You'll feel so much better after a fresh install. Also consider using a HD imaging program like Acronis True Image to save an external image of your entire Windows install every day. That way if anything goes wrong you can simply use Acronis to recreate a previous snapshot of your computer. And how the hell are you getting viruses? I've never once in my entire computing history had a virus. I've had Avast antivirus detect a few, but they're deleted before they actually get to do anything.

But what am I even saying, this is definitely the wrong forum to discuss this!