All of this software is designed for Windows 98 and above. Users must be logged into Windows with administrative priveleges before they continue.

If your computer is unable to access the internet, then you must perform the downloads on a functional computer (such as a friend's, a neighbor's, or a functional campus machine), and save the respective downloaded files onto a CD-RW or a USB Flash Drive.

You can significantly decrease the amount of time required to scan your computer if you clear out all of your temporary directories. These are located at:

• C:\Windows\Temp
• C:\Windows\Prefetch
• C:\Documents and Settings\ username \Local Settings\Temp
• C:\Documents and Settings\ username \Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files

1. Download & install

   Spybot Search & Destroy 1.3 and related updates can be found at http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html. Download the installation executable and save it to your desktop.

   If your computer cannot connect to the internet, also download the latest versions of the advanced check library update, and the detection updates. Once you've pulled down all three files and placed them on your computer's desktop, begin by double-clicking on the Spybot installer.

   Select all the default options during the Spybot installation. When you are finished, Spybot will ask you if you want to "create a registry backup". You can skip this step, by clicking on the Next button. The next screen will ask if you want to search for updates. If your machine is able to access the internet without problem, then do so at this time. If you are having trouble connecting, click Next. The third screen asks if you would like to "immunize" your system. Again, if you are able to get online, and have already downloaded your updates, then select this option. Otherwise, click Next. Finally, select the option to Start using the program.

2. Install updates

   At this point, if you're not able to connect to the internet, turn the program off. The program will need to be off in order for you to install your detection updates and advanced check library update from your desktop. Execute the two installers--they should only take a few seconds to install.

3. Scan your computer

   When you're finished, restart Spybot. If you regularly use Internet Explorer, click on the Immunize icon. This feature of Spybot will give your computer a blacklist of forbidden ActiveX hosts, which can actually help Internet Explorer fend off spyware infections before they happen. Click on the Immunize button to secure your machine.

   Once you've immunized Internet Explorer, click on the Search & Destroy button. This will take you to the program's main feature screen:

   

   Select Check for problems to initiate a scan of your computer. Spybot will run through files and processes, and determine whether or not it matches known spyware. Forbidden items will be gathered into a list, like this:

   

   Once you're finished scanning, click on Fix selected problems to scrape the spyware out of the machine. In most cases, Spybot will remove the offending files without incident. However, sometimes you will need to restart your computer to remove certain files:

   

   If prompted to restart, do so and allow Spybot to run another scan.

4. Troubleshooting tips

   Certain spyware, while running, cannot be uninstalled or removed from Windows. If prompted, you should restart the machine, and let Spybot run another scan. This will let Spybot try to remove the bad file before it starts running on your machine. If Spybot still cannot remove the spyware, you might try rebooting into Safe Mode (by tapping the f8 key while restarting your computer) and try a third time.

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