UPDATE: I removed RealPlayer. I then ran Ad-Aware, which reported no dataminers, etc. I ran Spybot, for whatever it's worth, and found nothing.

I then ran Registry Mechanic, which found 155 problems in Custom Controls, plus three problems somwhere else. I had a phone call after it did the Custom Controls, and didn't see where it found the other three.

I assume these registry problems were the result of uninstalling RealPlayer.

I then came back here, and used the input window's historical list of contacts, one after another, for a number of URLs, several of which I know have been involved as original targets when I got the unwanted Realplayer connection. Found no anomalous connections, which MIGHT be an improvement or might not be signficiant. I don't put a lot of importance on this, because the problem might not have happened in that number (20?) of attempts anyway.

I'm going to run a Norton AV scan right now. I'll see what happens thereafter, in the next few days, and report what I find.

Dave Oesterreich