How to Uninstall My Web Search Toolbar

My Web Search is a toolbar add-on for Internet Explorer that is often installed when you download software from the "Fun Web Products" line. This includes software such as Smiley Central, My Mail Signature, PopSwatter, Cursor Mania and My Mail Stationary. Despite the fact that these applications are not spyware, they do run processes in the background that can use up memory and slow your computer down. Some, like the My Web Search toolbar, are also flagged by spyware scanners for removal. Even if you uninstall the My Web Search toolbar, there may be unknown files left on your computer that need to be removed.

Instructions

Uninstall My Web Search Toolbar

1. 1
   Click on "Start" and choose "Control Panel."
   
2. 2
   Click on "Add/Remove Programs" if you are a Windows XP user. Windows Vista and 7 users should click on "Programs and Features."
   
3. 3
   Find the My Web Search toolbar in the list of programs that are installed on your computer. The toolbar may also be installed under the name "My Search Bar," "My Web Search Bar," "Search Assistant" or "MyWay Speed Bar."
   
4. 4
   Click on the toolbar name once to highlight it in the list, then click the "Remove" button to uninstall the program.
   
5. 5
   Reboot your computer to allow changes to take effect.
   

Remove Remaining Processes

6. 1
   Download and install the free HijackThis utility (see Resources).
   
7. 2
   Launch the HijackThis utility and click the "Do a system scan only" button.
   
8. 3
   Allow the utility to scan your computer and look for any of the following entries:
   
   R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - {00A6FAF6-072E-44cf-8957-5838F569A31D} - C:\Program Files\MyWebSearch\SrchAstt\1.bin\MWSSRCAS.DLL
   
   O2 - BHO: MyWebSearch Search Assistant BHO - {00A6FAF1-072E-44cf-8957-5838F569A31D} - C:\Program Files\MyWebSearch\SrchAstt\1.bin\MWSSRCAS.DLL
   
   O2 - BHO: mwsBar BHO - {07B18EA1-A523-4961-B6BB-170DE4475CCA} - C:\Program Files\MyWebSearch\bar\1.bin\MWSBAR.DLL
   
   O3 - Toolbar: My &Web Search - {07B18EA9-A523-4961-B6BB-170DE4475CCA} - C:\Program Files\MyWebSearch\bar\1.bin\MWSBAR.DLL
   
   O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MyWebSearch Email Plugin] C:\PROGRA~1\MYWEBS~1\bar\1.bin\mwsoemon.exe
   
   O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MyWebSearch Email Plugin] C:\PROGRA~1\MYWEBS~1\bar\1.bin\mwsoemon.exe
   
   O4 - Startup: MyWebSearch Email Plugin.lnk = C:\Program Files\MyWebSearch\bar\1.bin\MWSOEMON.EXE
   
   O4 - Global Startup: MyWebSearch Email Plugin.lnk = C:\Program Files\MyWebSearch\bar\1.bin\MWSOEMON.EXE
   
   O8 - Extra context menu item: &Search - http://bar.mywebsearch.com/menusearch.html?p=ZWYYYYYYYYUS
   
   O16 - DPF: {1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB} - http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/nocache/funwebproducts/ei/MyWebSearchInitialSetup1.0.0.8-2.cab
   
9. 4
   Place a mark next to each entry that you find and click the "Fix Checked" button to allow the tool to remove them.
   

Remove Remaining Files

10. 1
    Click on the "Start" button and choose "Computer" from the Start menu.
    
11. 2
    Double-click your main hard drive. This will usually be the "C" drive.
    
12. 3
    Double-click the "Program Files" folder.
    
13. 4
    Locate the folders named "FunWebProducts" or "MyWebSearch."
    
14. 5
    Right-click on the folders and choose "Delete" from the menu to remove them.