From Newbie to Dummy is good. Honest! ![]()
But I see IOBit software in your post. Sadly we often see problems reported after using this software, and we never recommend it.
Also, can you clarify that your have Avast and AVG installed on your system? Not necessarily toxic, as long as only one runs continuously in the background. If both are, you may see conflicts as they both attempt to scan files at the same time.
Also, AVG has a browser add-on that checks all web sites as you surf. It used to be called "LinkScanner", and sometimes caused problems. The name of the add-on has changed, but perhaps the problems have not. I don't know if Avast has a similar type add-on. If so, again there could be conflicts.
Tell us more about the search redirect problems. You say, "When a search word is entered". Does that mean that, as you are typing the word in the Search box, your browser immediately gets redirected?
So, if you use Google to search for ISS, (that is the International Space Station), where does your browser immediately go to?
When i type a word such as ISS, then click Search, I get a list of sites offered. I then right click one of the entries in the list, then select "New tab".
Are you using a search toolbar?
Whenever we see IE problems our first test is to try Internet Explorer's No Add-on option, in Start > All programs > Accessories > System Tools. Try that, and see if search works properly there. I can't talk for the MSN browser, I never use it.
If that IE option gives no errors when searching, then this looks like an add-on problem, and they can be given the 'elimination test' in Tools > Manage Add-ons.
Hope that helps.
Mark
[me again] I'm still a "dummie" tho not a newbie. Need your expert help - again! This is hard to explain. Browsers I use now: IE7 & MSN [Nobody else does! but I like it]. I use Bing Image search & Google Images all the time. Now when search word is entered I get a weird redirect to some other universe . Sometimes [not always] I use the browser address bar directly with a known/partial url and the same thing happens. Avast runs in the background; *daily* run AVG Virus-Ck and IObit malware + 3x/wk also Malwarebytes [never finds anything] and another Virus scan w/Avast. Everything is fine. So what's the deal with this browser weirdness? It's not a good sign. Bing & Google are big boys and very necessary. I've been told to never touch the Registry so I don't. HELP! thanks muchly, ginni system: older Dell. XP Pro-SP3. slower chip.

Chowhound
Comic Vine
GameFAQs
GameSpot
Giant Bomb
TechRepublic