Can't stop an ie window from popping up.

I have tried a few things to try to stop whatever it is from opening an ie browser window to no avail.

I have tried:
Lavasoft Adaware Plus
Spybot Search and Destroy
Windows Defender
HiJackThis
Spyware Doctor

Upgraded ie6 to version 7, installed with malicious software protection.
Set it to highest level protection with pop up blocking on.

Even though each program found and removed different things, this pop up still occurs. It takes me to different sites, pretty much professional sites, not anything seemingly harmful.

I have AVG fully updated and performed a full scan with no critical results found.

I am at wits end as to what to do now. Anyone have something that is proven to be far better than what I've tried so far? Or maybe a better tactic at finding the culprit and removing it completely?

Thanks so much in advance.

Post your HJT log. You might also want to perform a manual scan using the Malicious Software Removal Tool (type mrt in the Run box.) And in the meantime, change the method of which pop-ups open... Tools | Internet Options | "General" tab | Tabs--> "Settings" button | "When a pop-up is ecountered:"--> select "Always open pop-ups in a new tab".

If you can swing it, try getting your hands on SpySweeper and giving that the ol' college try.

try avg antispyware too

Toolbars are bad about this. You don't have any do you?

I will try those two.

I disabled the google toolbar that was installed. THen I uninstalled it. Didn't seem to make any difference.

I will try to post a HJT log as well.

Thanks for the advice.

Maybe post a screen shot of your install programs list.

Also sorry but I couldn't resist

I tried to pop up in new tab rather than window, closed ie and reopened it. Still the new window pops up.
It only does it if I use ie, does not do it when I run firefox of which I installed recently because the pop up thing is driving me crazy. ALthough I still need ie to access certain secure sites.

The HiJack log:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 2:40:09 PM, on 4/28/2008
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16640)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgcc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\netdde.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgamsvr.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgupsvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgemc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\Tools\hijackthis\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Window Title = Microsoft Internet Explorer provided by Verizon Online
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyServer = 0.0.0.0:80
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = 127.0.0.1
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: RealPlayer Download and Record Plugin for Internet Explorer - {3049C3E9-B461-4BC5-8870-4C09146192CA} - C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\rpbrowserrecordplugin.dll
O2 - BHO: DriveLetterAccess - {5CA3D70E-1895-11CF-8E15-001234567890} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswshx.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG7_CC] C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgcc.exe /STARTUP
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: &AOL Toolbar search - res://C:\Program Files\AOL Toolbar\toolbar.dll/SEARCH.HTML
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra button: Real.com - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\Shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\ua_lsp.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\ua_lsp.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\ua_lsp.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\ua_lsp.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\ua_lsp.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\ua_lsp.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\ua_lsp.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\ua_lsp.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\ua_lsp.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\ua_lsp.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\ua_lsp.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\ua_lsp.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\ua_lsp.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\ua_lsp.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\ua_lsp.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\ua_lsp.dll
O11 - Options group: [INTERNATIONAL] International*
O16 - DPF: vzTCPConfig - http://www2.verizon.net/help/dsl_settings/include/vzTCPConfig.CAB
O16 - DPF: {01A88BB1-1174-41EC-ACCB-963509EAE56B} (SysProWmi Class) - http://support.dell.com/systemprofiler/SysPro.CAB
O16 - DPF: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39204
O16 - DPF: {4A3CF76B-EC7A-405D-A67D-8DC6B52AB35B} (QDiagAOLCCUpdateObj Class) - http://aolcc.aol.com/computercheckup/qdiagcc.cab
O16 - DPF: {4ED9DDF0-7479-4BBE-9335-5A1EDB1D8A21} - http://download.mcafee.com/molbin/shared/mcinsctl/en-us/4,0,0,84/mcinsctl.cab
O16 - DPF: {4F1E5B1A-2A80-42CA-8532-2D05CB959537} (MSN Photo Upload Tool) - http://gfx2.hotmail.com/mail/w2/resources/MSNPUpld.cab
O16 - DPF: {BCC0FF27-31D9-4614-A68E-C18E1ADA4389} - http://download.mcafee.com/molbin/shared/mcgdmgr/en-us/1,0,0,21/mcgdmgr.cab
O20 - Winlogon Notify: igfxcui - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\igfxsrvc.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: LMIinit - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\LMIinit.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O21 - SSODL: WPDShServiceObj - {AAA288BA-9A4C-45B0-95D7-94D524869DB5} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\WPDShServiceObj.dll
O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Alert Manager Server (Avg7Alrt) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgamsvr.exe
O23 - Service: AVG7 Update Service (Avg7UpdSvc) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgupsvc.exe
O23 - Service: AVG E-mail Scanner (AVGEMS) - GRISOFT, s.r.o. - C:\PROGRA~1\Grisoft\AVG7\avgemc.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: Pml Driver HPZ12 - HP - C:\WINDOWS\System32\HPZipm12.exe
O23 - Service: PC Tools Auxiliary Service (sdAuxService) - PC Tools - C:\Program Files\Spyware Doctor\pctsAuxs.exe
O23 - Service: PC Tools Security Service (sdCoreService) - PC Tools - C:\Program Files\Spyware Doctor\pctsSvc.exe

Well I don't see anything that jumps out at me, however I haven't worked a HiJackThis log in over a year so wait to see what others say.

*edit* Also I think you have a issue with winsock, you should probably download and run WinSockFix.

*edit* actually it appears that "O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\windows\system32\ua_lsp.dll" is a valid entry.

This one appears to be a tough one.

EDIT:
I gave SpySweeper and SpyEmergency a shot with no luck. They each found a couple of things that struck me as maybe being false positives but I removed them anyways. Still getting this monstrous pop-up from ie.

I am now trying avg anti-spyware which reminds me of EWidow which was some really good software. I am thinking AVG somehow took them over. I sure hope this one does it.

This is the address it keeps popping up:
http://url.adtrgt.com

avg antispyware didn't detect whatever is causing it.
Kaspersky didn't find anything.
Norton Endpoint (spyware and antivirus) didn't find anything either.

OMG

Looks like you are not alone, but I am not sure what exactly to tell you.
Apperars to be some kind of hook that IE7 uses so the maleware is bypassed by many programs and may look ligit. Some consistant file names keep popping up in the search I did , but you will probably have to see them for yourself.
Put in Google search "contant popups in ie7 url.adtrgt.com", after several pages you will notice that results vary but some were able to fix on other forum sites using antivirus software in safe mode along with a program called combofix used on some of the sites. Logs will have to be posted and an expert there can tell you what to delete.
At least you have somewhere to look.