Getting stubborn adware and spyware off your PC can be frustrating. However, there are steps you can take to make the process easier and more effective. If your system is heavily infested, you'll need access to a clean computer to download the necessary tools. If you don't have a second computer, ask a friend to download the tools for you and burn them to a cd. If you plan to use a USB drive to transfer the downloaded files, make sure both your computer and your friend's computer have autorun disabled.

1. Disconnect from the Internet
Close all open browser windows and applications (including email) and then disconnect your PC from the Internet. If you can access the back of the computer, the easiest thing to do is just remove the phone line or cable connecting the PC to the modem or router. If the back of the computer isn't easily accessible, you can remove the ethernet cable or phone line from router or modem.

2. Try a Traditional Uninstall
A suprising number of applications labeled as adware and spyware have fully functioning uninstallers that will cleanly remove the program. Before moving on to more complex steps, start with the easiest route and check the Add/Remove Programs list in the Windows Control Panel. If the unwanted program is listed, simply highlight it and click the Remove button. In Windows Vista, the Add/Remove Programs feature is listed in Control Panel as Programs and Features. After removing the adware or spyware via Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs, reboot the computer. Make sure you reboot after the uninstall, even if you aren't prompted to do so.