The subject of spyware, computers, Adware, AOL, etc. has been a hot topic on many lists. Below is a cut/paste from an entirely different list in another state. I found this info very helpful as it's put in simple terms. Perhaps it will be helpful to many of you that have had these types of problems. The author of the text below responded to me privately. The person works in an IS Department. Let's please not begin another rehash on the list...this is just to help you out if you're having problems as I had. *** "I'd like to venture some opinions about computers and software in general in the hopes it will help you solve your problem with Ad-aware. I've used Ad-aware for sevearl years on different machine with no adverse effects -- but -- I don't have XP or use AOL. AOL, MSN, Compuserve are all "proprietary" software. Proprietary means this software wants to control your machine. This is fine except MS (ME/XP/2000/Win9x) DOES control your machine.  So very often the conflict is caused by these giants fighting for control. Of course all of the error messages are written to make you think you did something terrible when all you did was boot your computer.  The actual problem lies in the boot sequence called the "Startup menu" By default every piece of software puts an icon on your desktop and installs itself in the start menu.  It's like putting, spaghetti, baby food, fish, chicken, gumbo, livern, oatmeal, potatoes, lettuce, onion and canned veggies in the blender and turning it on. Would you eat it? I wouldn't either but this is what your computer gets fed everytime you turn it on. Eventually it rebels and you get the weird messages. XP is touted as being compatible with W98, W95, W3.1 and DOS programs and it is, but you have to do some tweeking to make it work. One of the tweeks you can do is to change how XP acts. If you have a W98 program then you tell XP to emulate W98. Before you download anything off the internet be sure to read the "System Requirements". It will tell you what machines can run the software. If you see Windows 95, Windows 98 and ME, you should tell XP to emulate W98 if you want the program to operate properly. Microsoft "remove" does not remove any software. It removes the common path to the program. In other words, if you  walk up five steps to get into your house, and remove steps 2.,3 and 4, the common path is changed. I suspect if you reinstall the Ad-aware program you will correct the path, and your other programs will be happy again. Ad-aware will not run automatically unless you allow that function. I don't allow any software to run automatically except my anti-virus -- and that is only because I have a 24/7 internet connection. Once software is loaded it is in the Start_Programs menu -- so putting it in the start menu is redundant and wastes resources. Most lock ups, crashes and blue screens are caused by lack of memory. MS operating systems don't manage memory resources very well and error messages are one indication. A simple reboot releases the memory and the computer purrrs until the next time. The only way to stop it is to install a minimum of 512 MB of ram." ***