new thread
Thanks everyone for the suggestions but I haven't had much luck with Google and with anti-virus anti-spyware web sites.
For example, I tried http://www.pcpitstop.com/default.asp and find ads and suggestions for McAfee software.
I distrust McAfee because a few days ago when I tried to update my Dell installed McAfee software, I damaged my computer. I turned on the firewall; the modem wouldn't work so I allowed full access to the modem drivers. When connected to the Internet I still was getting unknown reading and sending over the connection, so I started blocking many other things the firewall allows though by default. And when I got to blocking the WindowsXP Media Player, the unknown reading and sending over the connection stopped, but a few minutes the modem wouldn't function because of a missing component. When I was trying to figure out what happened the computer crashed. Now the modem doesn't work and the CPU still runs at 100% capacity whenever WindowsXP is on. Dell Computer technical support hung up on me. I guess they hung up because their policy is to not help people with virus or software McAfee software virus scan can scan but fails to find any virus. McAfee web site only asks for money and personal information: a 900 number phone asks for $177 per hour--I see, I update Dell-McAfee software and it shuts off my modem and now they ask for money and personal information. It sounds like robbery, but the long software user installation agreements say it's "As is" releaving the vender of any liability.
This is why I think I need to switch to Linux and have a simple configuration of Internet applications, and reformat the disk and re-install everything about once a week or so to keep things clean. The advantage of Linux is it's open source, so I could remove any spyware or unknown processes packaged in the applications. Windows is closed source, and the Microsoft user agreement says it shouldn't be modified.
I'm sorry this post is so long--again we are robbed of time.