[Kenny Bunk]

HELP!

[ShadowAce]

Seriously—get rid of Windows. You don’t even need new hardware.

[ShadowAce]

Also:

Firefox (or a fork of it) + AdBlock Plus + NoScript + Ghostery will stop 99-100% of what you are seeing.

[mmichaels1970]

run a scan from malwarebytes.org. Download it onto a flash drive if you can't get to it from your computer.

If that doesn't fix it, you can get more drastic by running combofix from bleepingcomputer.com.

At worst, you can find a local computer guy to clean it for about $50.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

If you absolutely must keep running XP, consider running Linux inside of it with VirtualBox or some other VM.

You can do what you need to in XP, and do all your other stuff, like FR, from inside Linux.

[jsanders2001]

Sounds like your compiter is infected by adware and needs a good antivirus program. Malwarebytes and Avast are decent low-cost options.
I also bet you need a good cleanup program to uninstall all those pesky toolbar apps you didn’t realize you were downloading when you were downloading free software. They gather info about you online habits and send the info to sponsors online which can result in you getting spammed. One program I like for that is Advanced Systemcare. It will cleanup your computer and defrag it plus comes with a decent program uninstalled to get rid of those pesky toolbar programs.

Here’s some links to get those programs:

http://www.avast.com/en-us/index-win
Http://malwarebytes.org
http://www.iobit.com/advancedsystemcareper.html

Hope this helps.

J

[raccoonradio]

I was getting something called Ad Choices here on FR and on many other pages. It was driving me nuts. Did virus scan and saw something had come up (malware?)—then the next thing I knew I couldn’t get the comp. to work, etc. Took it to a neighborhood repair shop and was told there was indeed a virus, etc. and he could re-install Win 8.1 though he said he thought 7 was better.

Off to Best Buy and Staples and found Windows 8 was out of stock unless I wanted to drive 100 miles or so. So my repair guy said I can put Windows 7 on it. Didn’t cost much, etc. ...and hey, Ad Choices is GONE!!
Maybe you have a similar adware/malware/virus problem.

(Also: I have a Chromebook netbook sized comp which has its own system, not windows. Yes they won’t allow you to install Audible or audio programs etc but the thing runs like a charm...)

[Thorliveshere]

Malwarebytes has been a big help for me (and it’s free). All IT guys I know swear by it.

[McGruff]

Never heard of this “SmarterPower” thing. Sounds like your Internet Browser Kung Fu is weak. I run Windows 7 on all my machines. But I can dual boot into XP if you show me an example of this problem you are having.

[Clump]

Pfl

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Really, Loose XP

[McGruff]

Just about everything you need to know is here.

Remove SmarterPower Ads (Virus Removal Guide)

http://malwaretips.com/blogs/remove-smarterpower-virus/

[goodnesswins]

Bfl

[Ingtar]

I have none of these issues running FR on IE. That box is Windows 8 (in grumpy developer mode), and run ESET NOD-32 in the background.

[Boogieman]

You’re infected with viruses.

[LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget]

http://www.herdprotect.com/?s=1

will eliminate your malware

Then click on the wrench, and reset your browser settings & tcp ip settings.

concur on Firefox/ad block/mallwarebutes

[discostu]

Run a good malware tool, don’t happy click, use a browser with adblocking, and upgrade to a modern OS (which will dramatically assist the first and 3rd parts).

[Pelham]

Remove SmarterPower Ads (Virus Removal Guide)

http://malwaretips.com/blogs/remove-smarterpower-virus/

How to remove (uninstall) SmarterPower. Step by step removal guide (youtube video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4I947ai39Q