pop-ups that won't go away

Hope last post covered your query?

Well done Charles,
Congratulations you are clean!
Now that you are clean, please follow these simple steps in order to keep your computer clean and secure:

Create a new System Restore Point
This is a good time to clear your existing system restore points and establish a new clean restore point:

• Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore
  
• Select Create a restore point, and Ok it.
  
• Next, go to Start > Run and type in cleanmgr
  
• Select the More options tab
  
• Choose the option to clean up system restore and OK it.
  

This will remove all restore points except the new one you just created.

Here are some free programs I recommend that could help you improve your computer's security.

Spybot Search and Destroy 1.5.2
Download it from here. Just choose a mirror and off you go.
Find here the tutorial on how to use Spybot properly here
Find here changes from older version 1.4 here

Install Spyware Guard
Download it from here
Find here the tutorial on how to use Spyware Guard here

Install SpyWare Blaster
Download it from here
Find here the tutorial on how to use Spyware Blaster here

Install WinPatrol
Download it from here
Here you can find information about how WinPatrol works here

Install FireTrust SiteHound
You can find information and download it from here

Install MVPS Hosts File from here
The MVPS Hosts file replaces your current HOSTS file with one containing well know ad sites etc. Basically, this prevents your computer from connecting to those sites by redirecting them to 127.0.0.1 which is your local computer.
Find Tutorial here : http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

Update your Antivirus programs and other security products regularly to avoid new threats that could infect your system.
You can use one of these sites to check if any updates are needed for your pc.
Secunia Software Inspector
F-secure Health Check

Visit Microsoft often to get the latest updates for your computer.
http://www.update.microsoft.com

Please check out Tony Klein's article "How did I get infected in the first place?"

Read some information here how to prevent Malware.

Happy safe surfing!

Dan

Dan,

Many, many thanks! Got the restore point taken care of.
One last question about the programs you mentioned. Do I need one of these in addition to my avg and online armor programs, or am I to replace, say the avg with one you recommended?
Thanks again for all your help.

Charles

You have an Antivirus AVG7 and now have a Online Armor firewall too which gives you a good basic defence.
You also have on your system AVG Anti-Spyware and Windows Defender.
If you feel you want any of the additional programs that I put forward, the choice is yours.

If anything I would keep "malwarebytes" which we used and remove AVG Anti-Spyware (don't remove avg7 which is your antivirus.)
Hope that helps
dan