I'm sorry, I'm just angry that people with knowledge use it for completely stupid things.

It seems some disreputable sites have screwed with my computer, resulting in popup ads every time I try to open my homepage. So every time I open my browser, I get my normal homepage AND popup ads. Why don't I just change my homepage address you ask? Because the area in internet options is greyed out and I can't change it!! ARRGHH!!!!!

Please help me fix this!! AHH! Why are some people so annoying!?!?!?

Here's the address they've replaced as my homepage:
http://www.cnetadd.com/d.asp?http://www.resnet.wm.edu/~mhmahe/links/links.htm

nice:) grab Ad-Aware - it'll find/delete whatever program is doing this to you:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
-mark

If you're on the Win32 platform, then I have some info for you that might be helpfull...

If you're using IE, you can stop popup ads by disabling active scripting.

In IE6 it's located here:
Tools/internet options/security/custom level/active scripting

I don't remember exactly where it is with other versions, but It should be somewhere similar.

If you're using another browser, then I'm not sure exactly, but there should be a similar option.

The only problem with turning off active scripting, is that some elements in sites won't work correctly, such as a button to download a file instead of a link. You can however, turn it back on and refresh the page if you need to. That's what I usually do. It is annoying, but not half as annoying as popups.


As far as your default home page being stuck goes, I would check the registry.

For example, the default home page for IE on my machine is stored in the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Start Page

If it's not there, or if you're using a different browser, just do a search in the registry. In your case, do a search for "http://www.cnetadd.com/d.asp?http://www.resnet.wm.edu/~mhmahe/links/links.htm" and you should be able to find it.

Good luck!

Thanks for the help guys! I've kinda fixed it.

I downloaded that program. It found alot of stuff I guess and fixed it. It didn't find this particular thing though, but I guess it was good anyway.

I then went the registry route. I searched for "cnetadd.com". There were lots of instances, including one in "start page". I simply modified that key to the start page I wanted and now it takes me where it should. However, the start page settings are still greyed out in Internet Options. So I'm still a little worried about it. hmmm.

It didn't find this particular thing though, but I guess it was good anyway.

You're saying you had adware on your system that was not located by Lavasoft Ad-aware?

Oh, wait, I think I see what happened. Some web page modified your start-page link to give you a popup ad. Your fix sounds correct, but I don't know why the start page entry is grayed.

Incidentally, if you tend to get annoyed by popups while surfing, there is a product called "Popup Ad Filter" that works for stopping them. Runs in the system tray.

I had problems using it on my '98 box, seemed to get unstable sometimes. Works like a charm on my 2000 box, though.

Thanks. Yeah, the area is still greyed out. very disconcerting. At that point, I call it a virus. Sort of a non-spreding virus, but it's just as invasive. This sort of thing should be illegal (or is it?).

By the way, I spoke too soon on it being a popup specifically. it's not really a popup, I just got a message asking to load a language pack (the site that was inserted as my start page appears to be Korean or something). Anyway, it's annoying. Oh well.

It changed your home page to a korean site? Hmm, It's possible that it could be the result of a virus. Scanned for viruses lately?