I was doing some downloading (I know), but I did. I was scanning the downloads with AVG and didn't find anything, but obviously it got by. Anyway, now I have something on my machine. I am unable to browse any of my 3 hard drives from their desktop shortcuts or from my computer. Also, when I am surfing the web, a new window pops up with this addy...
://82.98.235.202/dot.gif/?ver=120&cmp=profiling4&uid=0C73B3A0EF5311DDB81115 4790CFFFFF&guid=FCB115542DFD456CB70543A4EB6103B3&a ffid=154790&rid=zdez&m=ki5s&revid=10084&lid=www.go ogle.com%2Fsearch%3Fq=I+can%27t+browse+hard+drives +from+my+computer%26ie=utf-8%26oe=utf-8%26aq=t%26rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial%26client=firefox-a&uqs=90&s=0&c1=90&c2=0&uid_track=7e7a868a-68d6-4043-8770-805dc78d0264&br=firefox
There is http at the beginning of that addy.
And thirdly, when I ran HJT, I was unable to save a log file. When I clicked "save log" the application just closed. I did a search for the log file, but there was none.

My system info...
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name BARTH-TOWER
System Manufacturer System manufacturer
System Model System Product Name
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 4 Stepping 9 GenuineIntel ~3200 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies, LTD ASUS P5N-E SLI ACPI BIOS Revision 0608, 6/11/2007
SMBIOS Version 2.4
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512 (xpsp.080413-2111)"
User Name BARTH-TOWER\Mark
Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Total Physical Memory 3,072.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 2.29 GB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 16.33 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

I am using AVG free, Spybot SD, & I use windows firewall.
I don't know if this is related, but the automatic updates setting has become disabled. I tried to turn the auto updater on and it says it's on (in the control panel), but I still have the icon in the tray that says it's off.
Here's another thing I just noticed, the AVG won't update. It says that the connection failed on the update manager.
I think I'm being hammered good here. I know it's going to be hard to give me help without giving me about being so dumb....but please try