CiD Help

If you can't use the built in Windows uninstaller, there's a nifty (free) utility called "Killbox". I haven't used it for a while so can't provide a good link, but it may be worth looking up if the situation is dire. You download and install Killbox, then open it and you give it a link to the offending folder (track down the path name via "My Computer", or if you're old school "Windows Explorer". Said trash is then killed off. You can even then uninstall killbox and the whole lot will go. A registery clean-up afterwards would be no bad thing. If unsure, get a freebie such as CCleaner/Win Optimizer. Majorgeeks is a reasonable source of freeware. Probably many other ways, but it depends how much guidance you need.

Go Here!

http://www.precisesecurity.com/adware-spy/cidpu.htm

I use and can recommend Malwarebytes.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

I use the above and Avira Antivirus to help keep annonying pop ups etc at bay.

Regards Woody

I agree with Kris, kill-box is good or you can use another very effective remover of locked files

Revo un-installer works well, it tracks down associated files & registry entries. You can download a free version.

Well, thanks to all of you very helpful members.

I am using Vista, by the way. (just got a brand spanking new laptop I have to configure with that new OS called XP Pro and a lot more memory and hard drive capacity from Tiger Direct)

A couple of things I learned thru this fiasco.

1) After checking several online IT forums, the advice always seemed to pertain to OS earlier than Vista, as did some advice here. Maybe it is just my configuration (MS seems to always have a few oddities floating around within OS from back in the day. (yours is not always like mine)

2) Screamingly advised on the above mentioned forums to not uninstall from normal method, because I may get really hijacked and never recover.

3) CiD Help is aligned with something within the Windows Live programs.

4) Nothing advised worked for me.

5) Uninstalled MS Messenger and most components of Windows Live.

6) Since nothing worked, and I have all backed up, I decided to take the plunge and do uninstall from Computer page.

7) I got a window with the magic numbers and said to type them in a box to prove I was not a computer.

8) A couple of days ago I would have hesitated, but I took the plunge and followed instructions.

9) Lo, it worked, but albeit, not in an expected manner and My speed has increased quite a bit.

10) I suspect that this all started with Messenger, which a friend asked me to use as a backup a couple of years ago, and CiD Help has been lurking in the background awaiting the right MS update to pounce.

So, It is gone, this laptop is running faster and smoother in a few areas than it has in the last 2 years and again, I thank you all for your encouragement and help.

CAUTION!!! a battle won maybe but the sleuth is yet afoot...

The information given herein are but steps in the identification of cyber-crud. We can not ascertain the particulars without a posting of your logs etc., make/model, O/S and Internet connection details—networks involved etc.. Communication on your part is critical an enabling of investigation by any forum means, without pertinent details no one can offer substantive aid.

Okay simple/basic rendition, in order to eradicate a bot you need to identify all replicating fragments; note recent observance has confirmed bots are now capable of executing work—arounds without human interaction(example, examples 2; oldnews, but this! you'll find very interesting— Twitter based bot-net command channel).

You may realize the next generation (current) of cyber-crime is not to eliminate or destroy a computer or incapacitate them but to capture a percentage of resources on each machine an assemble a virtual computing bot-net instead.

Now you are hooked, the bot is once again secreted in the background and may not be easily discovered, don't put anything personal on or through this machine without first obtaining professional eradication.

You may realize the next generation (current) of cyber-crime is not to eliminate or destroy a computer or incapacitate them but to capture a percentage of resources on each machine an assemble a virtual computing bot-net instead.

Yes I understand this.

don't put anything personal on or through this machine without first obtaining professional eradication.

But, what do you consider professional?

But, what do you consider professional?

Professional maybe a bit strong an actually one knowledgeable of the conditions pertinent to the O/S and threat as it pertains to the security available for it's (O/S) ability or lack of to prevent compromise without the users knowledge or consent.