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jdul

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Cannot Search From Address Bar after deleting SpiderSearch.com toolbar

I somehow got the SpiderSearch.com toolbar on my system as well as all the porn pop-ups, re-directs, etc.  I went to the SpiderSearch.com page and used their uninstaller to rid myself of the problem and it seemed to work.  However, now I can no longer search from my address bar (whereas before I could).  For example, when typing "shoes" in the address bar, instead of giving me a list of possible sites, I now get a "The page cannot be displayed" page with http:///?%20shoes in the address bar.  This is very annoying to me.  I have checked the usual places (Tools>Internet Options>Advanced>Search from the Address Bar) and the Autosearch Settings under the Customize Search Settings and everything is still marked correctly so this problem is not within those areas but must be something that was changed/removed either when the SpiderSearch.com bar was installed or uninstalled from the system.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  
(I'm afraid that it is a "security" topic due to the nature of these programs such as spidersearch and what they can or may have done to my pc, but if I'm in the wrong area, let me know as I'm a new  person.)  Thanks.
Avatar of Rich Rumble
Rich Rumble
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You have a virus/ad-ware (spy-ware)
http://www.webattack.com/download/dladaware.shtml ad-aware will take care of it... also search your registry for any remaining keys...
Replace the search bar with googles... toolbar.google.com  has a great pop-up blocker, and uses google as the engine :) You can go to your View settings to get rid of the other toolbar if as-aware is not good enough to uninstall it.
 Check to see if you have these registry entries. If you have delete them

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer,SearchURL = http://www.spidersearch.com/frame_results.php
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://www.spidersearch.com/frame_results.php
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://www.spidersearch.com/frame_results.php
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://www.spidersearch.com/frame_results.php
b) Also check for spidersearch in these registry entries
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Search Bar
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Search Page
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Start Page
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Default_Page_URL
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Default_Search_URL
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search\SearchAssistant
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search\CustomizeSearch
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Search Bar

GL!
-rich
Avatar of jdul
jdul

ASKER

Thanks for the tips.  I already have adaware and ran it and found nothing.  But just to make sure, I re-downloaded it again off your link and ran it again and found nothing.  I checked all through the registry and don't see spidersearch.com anywhere.  That's the good news - I guess their "uninstall" program did work as far as that is concerned - but, like I said, I still cannot do a search from my address bar and can only use the address bar when I know the exact address and type it in  perfectly.  I think the uninstall may have removed something I DID need (perhaps related to autosearching?) from the registry along with the stuff I wanted gone!  One thing I did notice when checking was that I have nothing in the following categories:  HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Default_Page_URL
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Default_Search_URL
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search\Customize
Should that matter?

I wish the SpiderSearch uninstall program gave a listing of what it changes.
Thanks in advance for your help.
JD
Avatar of jdul

ASKER

I just got the problem fixed myself by doing something I read about on another website.  For anyone that it may help...The user looked up this problem on technet and below is the suggested fix. He explained it a bit more just in case you need it

Copy the below to notepad (copy the text below the line marked Copy Below this line until end copy do not select either lines)

Select the text with the left mouse button drag down to highlight
Right click copy
Click start
Click run
type notepad

Paste the selected text to the notepad

In notepad
Click edit
Click paste

Save as a registry file
Click file
Click saveas
Type urlsearch.reg
Click filetype and select all files
Save to your desktop

Find the urlsearch.reg file on you desktop double click it to add the information to the registry

==========Copy Below this Line===============
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\URLSearchHooks]
"{CFBFAE00-17A6-11D0-99CB-00C04FD64497}"=""

==========End Copy=======================
This worked for me.
How do I close a question that I no longer need answered?  Thanks.
The Experts Exchange Help Pages - About Closing Questions
https://www.experts-exchange.com/Security/Win_Security/help.jsp#hi9

Many Regards
Jorgen Malmgren
IT-Supervisor
Denmark

:o) Your brain is like a parachute. It works best when it's open
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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PashaMod

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I had similar problem (with websearch spion) and i delete it, but fron this time Internet Explorer doesn´t open site, when I write to address bar address without http:// on the beginning. When I write address with http:// everything is ok and site is opened. :(