Any techie help appreciated (and no Pete the answer is not buy a mac!)

[therealjr]

I keep getting an error message at start up saying 'windows host services have stopped working'.
It's causing everything to run really slowly.
I've tried running Malaware detection software and run a scandisk from a command prompt but there's nothing coming back as being an issue.
As a by product something called XVRE-SEARCH appears to have made itself my homepage and it doesn't matter how many times I change it back to my preference next time I log on it's back.
Anyone any bright ideas?

[Pete]

Buy a Mac.

[Slacker]

I tend to get different tings come up in different browsers, Search Avg seems to pop up if I'm running Chrome but not in Firefox.

When I swapped the netbook they sold me Norton saying if saying it would remove thimgs that Spybot and CCleaner would only detect. What are people's thoughts on free protection, do they make money by letting certain sites get past?

[Alsatian]

Buy a Mac.

Why? Is it going to rain? 

[Alsatian]

What are people's thoughts on free protection, do they make money by letting certain sites get past?

When I asked the same question I was told that these anti-virus/anti-spyware companies provide free programs hoping that someone in business will pay for their (fully featured vs basic) commercial products. I would hope that is true, rather than it 'allowing' certain sites access.

[handy]

Have you tried disabling it as an add on if it is one  , and looking in programs to see if you can uninstall it, i like Revo unistaller  also is it set to run on start up .

[Spire]

Hi

An option I have used on several occasions if you are using windows XP or greater, is to use the restore option, and restore your PC to a date that is a date you know the PC was working okay.

You will lose and Applications/Programs you have installed after the restore date you choose, but any data will be preserved.

I fairly frequently make new restore points, for just such occasions as this.

[Old Cruser]

Having had probs with my pc the I.T. company change my antivirus to Avast yesterday saying the one I had was no longer really compatible. Can be a right pain at times these pc's

[Fly]

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic473286.html