I’m running Windows XP Pro if that has any bearing on your recommendations.
I use Mozilla Firefox almost exclusively to surf the Internet and can’t think of a time when I have gotten a pop-up window while using it.

Some of my desktop apps, however, are associated with Internet Explorer and open IE on launch (as much as I wouldn’t like them to). That’s when and where I get an almost immediate onslaught of pop-up windows.
Ad-Aware keeps getting mentioned so I download a trial. Is it worth purchasing?

I have a spyware on my laptop called cyberlog-x and my virus protection program (McAfee) says it cannot remove it completely. How do I get it off? It’s still messing up my computer’s functions
I can’t really download anything because Internet Explorer closes down pretty quickly if I try to start it

im sure my registry is messed up becuase when i tried to install internet explorer v.7.0 it didnt allow me to and gave me a tutorial how to fix it through the registry. But im afraid if i edit things i could get my self into a whole world of hurt if i mess anything.
what are the best programs out there?

After downloading IMVU, my computer started running very slow. After a while, i deleted it from my computer, and my computer is running slower and worse than ever. Things keep installing themselves, and at random times things from internet explorer like advertisements keep popping up. It freezes very often as well. I've tried deleting things that arent necessary on my computer, and its only improved a little bit. What can i do to fix this my computer?