iexplorer virus problem

[ReadyMan]

My wife's laptop has an issue with popups and cpu hogging by iexplorer.

I've scanned the system using trend micro, and everything is clean.

However, after starting up the system, there is an iexplorer open in the task manager...without any iexplorer windows activated. Here's the problem though:
when she starts iexplorer, she gets a second iexplore.exe in the task manager that takes up just a few resources, but the first iexplore bogs the system down hard with cpu usage...and she gets these pop ups for registry cleaning.
If I close the application tree, it doesnt come back
until I restart.

I'm afraid that her system is compromised, and that its more than a popup issue.

I have no idea where to start on this one...I'd rather not reformat if I have any other choices.

thanks for any help!

RM

[CDN_Merlin]

adaware and spybot search n destroy. d/l these two and run them. Also, type MSCONFIG in the run box, click the startup tab and see if there's anything there that shouldn't be starting when you boot.

[JMEaT]

adaware and spybot search n destroy. d/l these two and run them. Also, type MSCONFIG in the run box, click the startup tab and see if there's anything there that shouldn't be starting when you boot.

QFT

I solve the majority of problems at work with AdAware and Spybot S&D. Download and get all the updates. In Spybot use the "Immunize" feature to block known harmful websites and then do a "Search and Destroy". In Adaware do a "Full Scan".

If all else fails, download and install Hijack This! Run a scan and post the log here (Don't go beyond that if you've never used it before). We'll help you decide what to sort through and axe.

If the machine has AOL AIM installed use this handy utility. It sometimes finds things the above misses:

http://jayloden.com/aimfix.htm

[Duper]

Also get Crap cleaner

One of the most thorough \"junk cleaning\" tools out there for free.

In fact, if i run Ccleaner before any of the spy ware programs, they seldom to never find anything.