I need help, my neighbor inadvertently downloaded Starware toolbar

[I_Make_Mistakes]

I thought I removed it, but it came back. I searched with Google and the only removal I found was either a long, long process, with terminating active processes, deleting from the registry etc. or downloading a removal tool (for a product that google didn't come up with much for). The thing is I have some knowledge, but am leary about something I don't find on for ex., CNET or PCWorld.

She also has a trojan horse Dropper.Small.10.AP and I couldn't find removal for that but a Dropper.Small.10.AN (a previous version my guess). It also seems complicated to delete.

My neighbor is a smart person (business wise, but no computer savvy at all).

At this point I think it might be best to wipe the hard drive and reinstall, she really doesn't have much on her machine (except for BAD stuff!).

I don't know how to wipe the disk, I know that it can be dangerous, but then so are the removal procedures, so anyone have any ideas.

She was laid off for 9 mos. and is cash strapped or I'd tell her to take it to a repair clinic.

I would appreciate any inciteful input!

[Berserker]

1. Before you reformat her hard drive

which is a very drastic move please go to this website on her computer and signup. All help and programs are free.
http://castlecops.com/
They will ask you to download a small program called HJT (Hijackthis) you will then follow their instructions on how to post a HJT log and they will help you clean the problems off the infected computer.
It's not hard to do.
HiJackThis
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html

They will also have you download these two GREAT programs:
Spybot S&D...http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download /
Ad-Aware SE....http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware /
Everyone that wants to keep their machine free from spyware should use these two free programs.

This is another good program to clean your computer of garbage.
CrapCleaner...http://www.ccleaner.com /

[I_Make_Mistakes]

2. Thanks, I had put ad-aware on her computer and she doesn't

run it, I do every so often. I thought that spybots&D might be overkill(because only once after running ad-aware did it find something that AA hadn't!).

I found ccleaner while searching, and downloaded it to her machine, but hadn't run it yet. She is out of town and I wanted to wait before I did anything drastic.

I will try your steps above, but I think I will have to disable System Restore first. I forgot to say that she had Norton and whatever was running her computer would turn it off, at System Startup you would have to turn monitoring on, at least a bubble would appear to inform you.

I think too many people don't want to be bothered with security and we are going to get a really big up tick in identity theft, etc., for those people they should just give up their computer. (Oh, and by the way she does have an 11yr. who could also be a big part of the problem).

Thanks for your advice and I'll let you know what happens, I am just not sure when I will do it, because I want her to understand the potentially serious risk she is at, by not dealing with security.

[salvorhardin]

3. Quite frankly

The quickest and easiest thing would be to just wipe the hard drive and reinstall Windows. It depends on how much time and effort you want to put into this. This time don't bother installing Norton as it is a resource hog, and not particularly effective. Instead I would recommend AVG Free Antivirus, Spybot S&D and (optionally) Microsoft AntiSpyware as well as Firefox 1.5RC2 and Thunderbird 1.5RC2 (if she needs a mail client). Both Mozilla programs have automatic updating now which is great for nontechnical users. Of course, if she isn't using a firewall, then a good free software based firewall like ZoneAlarm would be necessary. Oh, and Opera is now free with no ad banners or licensing fees and she may prefer that over Firefox.