In my add/remove programs list, there's a thing from web rebates. I know this is spyware. I have deleted all the files associated with it, but it still attempts to start when I boot my computer. When I try to uninstall it, I get a "java virtual machine launcher" error stating, "could not find the main class. Program with exit." I get this same pop-up when starting up my computer.

I looked through the registry, but I don't want to go on a deleting-spree in there. Spybot hasn't picked it up, so how can I get this thing off my computer?

Maybe you can try ad aware ( http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/ ). There's a free version that's really good. Spybot used to be good, but they don't update anymore. Ad aware will run on reboot before the program gets a chance to run, so it can remove the spyware.

After you download ad aware, make sure you update before you run it!

Good luck :heart:

http://download.com

There's one that's free and I forgot the name but it picks up more spy/adware than Spybot.

Eventually the spyware on my computer got so bad I needed to reformat.

Yeah.

I have adware, too, and it won't pick up anything :(

I've suggested this a few times before..

Bazooka Spyware and Adware Scanner (http://www.download.com/Bazooka-Adware-and-Spyware-Scanner/3000-8022-10247783.html?tag=lst-0-1)

It's definitely a good program. It doesn't delete things for you, but if you don't mind getting your hands dirty, it gives you an in-depth guide on deleting spyware and adware. I deleted things other programs couldn't delete with this.

You tried googleing?
Do 'web rebates spyware' and, you may have to dig around for a while but you'll usually find some post by someone else that helps...had a quick look myself and people seem to be recommending CWShredder to get rid of it (http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/CWShredder.exe <-- i use this myself, its good)

*gasp* I'm terrible... I didn't google...

Well I tried searching and found this program that said it'll get rid of it... and of course you had to register to actually clean it :P But it told me what was infected, so I did it myself... if I don't appear for a couple days, then I obviously broke my computer :lol:

but so far, so good!