Thanks for answering! I use NOD32, Spybot S&D, IOBIT Auto Smart Defrag and
Auslogics BoostSpeed. I hadn't installed anything new, though, when this
started happening. I recently renewed my NOD32 license but that didn't change
anything, nor does turning off the Windows firewall.

I hadn't thought of Spybot being a problem; it's supposed to notify me
before changing anything but something may have sneaked by. Do you have any
idea what I should look for if I search Spybot?

I also forgot to mention I use Firefox 2.1. The last time I tried upgrading
when 3.0 first came out all my bookmarks disappeared so I uninstalled 3 and
re-installed 2. I know I should upgrade but I don't really trust Mozilla any
longer.

I really appreciate your advice, I've tried everything I can think of but
obviously I'm missing something out of the ordinary.

December

"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:

Did you just install SP3 and/or do a Repair Install of Windows?

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?
What third-party firewall (if any)? Were any of these applications running
in the background when you installed ___?

Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on the
computer (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought
it)?

December wrote:
...without having changed any settings all my email has red x's
in place of links and nothing I've tried helps. I am still able to view
ordinary pictures embedded in email or sent as attachments...

I'm running OE6 w/XP on a Dell Inspiron530...

.