ravencajun, I went back in and disabled it again to see if it would happen again and I was able to get on the internet without any problems. I am now wondering if it was my ISP and I didn't know it at the time. I have no idea when they are having problems or when they decide to do something because they don't post it on their site. I did notice that it changed the looks of my search. I use to only have the search companion and I liked the looks of it and this here is just plain. Is there anyway that I can just have the search companion like I use to have and get rid of the new window? The new window is stuck and it says if I get out of it that it will cause problems. What in the world is going on with this. I never had this problem before with doing any type of searches. I disabled it but the new window won't go away. I can get the companion because it shows the dog at the bottom but I would rather it be like it was before I downloaded this thing. If you have any ideas how I can change the window back to the companion like it was before I downloaded this thing I would appreciate it very much. Thanks again, thirdfrt!!!

Thanks for the link, Zep. A lot of it was the same thing I tried already, and I was again unable to find what I needed in the about:config list. However, in %SYSTEMDRIVE%, I was able to find and remove the .NET framework extension folder whose name ends in \DotNetAssistantExtension\, so I guess that will have to do me. Is there some place where people can vent their disapproval of Microsoft's installing things surreptitiously like this? I also want to complain because the Uninstall button acted as if it were working, bringing up the "Restart FF" button and all, and yet it did nothing to get rid of that add-on.

Okay - I'm a bit confused. I went to do Windows Update and it is suggesting several dot net updates - and claiming some are high priority. These are the ones: KB 982524 KB 979909 KB 979906 Should I avoid these? Should I keep on avoiding dot net updates? I realize that I already took these updates on my old laptop at work (when I was getting drivers for my touchpad - having bought this laptop used and the previous owner wiped the drive clean and reinstalled operating system and drivers - and missed the touchpad drivers). Should I just leave it be on my work laptop if things seem to be functioning alright? If these net updates are a problem, what would the problem look like? Since I maintain my desktop and my daughters, my husband's laptop and my two laptops (good one for home and old, but lovable one at work) and my mother's desktop, I'd love a guideline about these net updates (all computers have XP, except husband's laptop with Vista). Thanks. Lynn.

I think there is a little misunderstanding of what .net framework is here, It's analogous to Java in that it's an engine that runs behind the scenes to provide functionality, it helps things run. It is used by certain programs many of which are involved with webpage design and display, it is used for programs like MS Visual Studio, it is also used by some game consoles, the newer applications may require the newer version of .net,older ones will be able to use 1.1 which is standard. However version 2 is NOT backward compatible with version 1.1 which is unfortunate. it's a framework/API to allow quick development of products with less errors, like ASP.net, Office 2007 uses it, and MS has really been pushing .net on the development community so a lot of the newer applications do use .net and when you need or get one of those applications or programs it will tell you that to use it you will need such and such version of .net for it to work (it works in the background to allow things to perform their task) and it will usually offer to have you install it or give the link to install it. here is the wiki on it, somewhat techie but does explain it. .NET Framework so it does not matter if you share files or network that is not what the .net means at all. you can simply leave the one you currently have on your pc as is till some day some program tells you that you will need a newer version of .net to run it, but do make sure if there are hotfixes or patches for the version you have as I mentioned earlier you do get those. I would not advise removing it from your pc either because it is very possible something you have on the pc does use it with out your knowing it.