I am fairly sure that I have changed a security setting or something that prevents me from accessing archived GenWeb files...

Whenever I click on a link that has a url that begins with http://ftp, like this
http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ny (Edited for privacy - Hengis)
the new window opens for a split second and then closes down the browser!

What on earth have I done?

Welcome to PCHF bd222

If you are having problems opening FTP sites, have you tried an FTP client program like this: http://www.smartftp.com/?

Also, you may want to follow these instructions and post the relevant logs for us to look at: http://www.pchelpforum.com/hijackthi...r-hjt-log.html

Another thing try entering ftp:// instead of http://ftp:

Btalman, that worked! It was just what I needed: a simple fix with easy to follow instructions.

Hengis, I am going to submit a hijackthis log, too, if I can understand the vocabulary well enough to follow the instructions... I speak several languages, but "geek" isn't one of them...

Allright good job bd222 :-)

Your "How to..." was very clear. Thank you!

I started in Safe Mode and opened no other windows before I started the Ewido scan. I hope that means no programs were running except the OS. When I ran the scan, the clock wasn't turned off (lower right corner). Does that count? All of my desktop icons were there, but the system tray items were not. Ctrl + Alt + Del didn't work so I couldn't see if anything was running.

It just seems to be running so slow for a computer with two Gigs of RAM and a DSL connection that is usually "T1" speed. (That's my whole computer vocabulary.)

Looks pretty good , but these can be fixed with hjt:

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {549B5CA7-4A86-11D7-A4DF-000874180BB3} - (no file)
O3 - Toolbar: (no name) - {BA52B914-B692-46c4-B683-905236F6F655} - (no file)

And do you have both symantec and Mcafee security center installed? Or have you uninstalled Mcafee