Time to start the cleanup. Grif has the scans I use at http://forums.cnet.com/7726-6122_102-5509131.html?tag=posts;msg5509131
After it's clean then we tackle the driver area again. Remember to reset all browsers then reboot after it's clean.
Hello forum!
Recently, I just got a bunch of problems. Let's just go straight to the point:
- My nVidia Driver disappeared. When I right-click on desktop it doesn't show up the nVidia panel. Although, I can still see the nVidia panel in the Control Panel but after I click it nothing happens.
- Right click on A BLANK SPACE (not on a file/folder) on the desktop takes around 16 seconds to open the options frame (it only happens on desktop, not in other folders).
- My browser is full of ads. Pop-ups and redirects almost on every site (except the high-level ones: Youtube, Facebook etc.).
- I have a short, small-sized horizontal black line over my monitor (next to the center). It seems that is from the LCD crystals, because, after I was a complete.. silly person, I tried to push my finger over it and the black line is now distorted (this problems needs screen replacement, I know).
Things I have tried:
- Full scan with Avira. Result: found and quarantined 5 malwares/adwares(don't know exactly) but no effect.
- System Restore. This was surprising. It let me restore my PC to 25/3 telling me it was a "Critical windows update". After it had done its things, at one moment it showed a box in the notifications area: "Installing nVidia driver" followed, of course, by "Driver successfully installed". Although, after the requested restart of the PC, it had no effect (nVidia was still not there..)
Any ideas, please? 
Chowhound
Comic Vine
GameFAQs
GameSpot
Giant Bomb
TechRepublic