Get rid of spyware:

FREE UP SOME MEMORY (Win98: 128MB RAM.  XP: 256MB RAM)

start >run >type msconfig >selective startup 
>Uncheck load startup group items >apply >OK >restart PC 

RESTART IN SAFE MODE

While PC is restarting press and release the F8 key repeatedly

Select safe mode option

Beware while in safe mode you cannot connect to Internet. Win98: no CDROM.

For a list of spware programs Visit: http://www.spywareguide.com/product_list_full.php

First remove the spyware programs:

Control panel >add remove programs

Sometimes you may be required to visit the Spyware site to download
the removal program.  If so dowload it and run it to remove spyware.

You may remove much garbage from the Windows Regisitry:

Start >run >type regedit >HKCU >software >microsoft >windows 
>current version >run

Delete the unwanted program items in run, run-, run once, run services.

Repeat above for HKLM

Start >run >type regedit >HKLM >software >microsoft >windows 
>current version >run

Exit registry.

Use IL system wiper to delete your temporary Internet Files & Windows History
Use Windows Explorer to delete temp Internet files in the IE5 folder of Internet Explorer

Use Hijackthis to delete spyware. Choose to NOT backup before Fix.
Remove all R0, R1, R2, R3 items
Remove all 01 Hosts, any 02 browser helper objects not needed.  
Keep your popup stoppers, spyware blocker, acrobat reader
Remove 03 browser toolbars. 
Remove 04 startup programs not necessary. 
Keep system tray, scan registry, firewall and antivirus. 
Remove all 016 activeX objects.

Use Process Explorer to Kill Stubborn Processes. Then delete malware.
Run spyware cleaners like adaware SE and spybot 1.3

Run spywareblaster

RESTART PC NORMALLY

start >run >type msconfig >click startup tab at top right
>put checkmark to load required programs at startup.
Required programs include firewall and antivirus. 

A good alternative browser is firefox.  Get Firfox 1.0 here:

http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

Firefox claims to be resistant to hijacking and spyware

CLOSE SECURITY HOLES:

If you are running XP then you need to close security holes:
Disable automatic updates, error reporting, messenger, remote regisrty,
remote desktop help, Task Scheduler, Telnet.

Turn on built in firewall for all Internet connections.
Clear pagefile.sys file upon Windows shutdown.

If you use outlook express then disable the preview:

Open outlook express.
Click inbox >view >layout >uncheck show preview pane >apply >OK

The preview automatically dowloads email for viewing.  This is BAD!

To protect yourself from malicious scripts within the HTML code
of email, download and install NoHtml from:

http://baxbex.com/downloads.html.

This excellent Outlook Express plugin will automatically convert all
incoming HTML email to plain text.

Having deleted much spyware, you may consider running defrag.
Checkout my verbal instructions for defrag in the maintenance 
section of this site.

Hope this helps

Chris