I fixed the Searchportal redirect problem. Last place I looked...figures.

[Michael Slaunwhite]

Hi.

Here is the info on what I did to fix this parasitic dns redirection which is plaguing so many people.

First visit this site, http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm Please read this document carefully, I did, and it saved my rear end.

Download the Hosts.zip file they suggest http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts2.htm (it's the webpage, I would like you to read, and get familiar with everything).

Once you download the file, open the readme file, and take a gander at it, and follow it. For Windows Vista, and Windows 7 remember to give admin rights to the batch file.

Just to be sure, add searchportal DOT com (the dot is a period) in the hosts files above the -endoffile- tag.

Okay, to make sure that I killed this bugger dns hijacker, and send it to the H double hockey sticks where it belongs, I changed my computers ID (I was having problem with win7 so these small instructions is for those who use win7).

First open up START->Control Panel->System, now click on Advanced System settings, select Computer Name, Now select CHANGE, now change your PC name to something like monkeyboy-pc or to whatever makes you laugh, cry you know the deal, and change your WORKGROUP to whatever you wish as well.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT reboot yet, there are a couple of things I wish you to do beforehand.

1:) There are two more things I wish you to do. First clear all of your webbrowser(s) cache, and get rid of all cookies, history etc...NEXT

2: [Important Notice - 2K/XP/Vista/Win7 Users]
In most cases a large HOSTS file (over 135 kb) tends to slow down the machine. This only occurs
in 2K/XP/Vista. Windows 98 and Windows ME are not affected.

To resolve this issue (manually) open the "Services Editor"

Start | Run (type) "services.msc" (no quotes)
Scroll down to "DNS Client", Right-click and select: Properties
Click the drop-down arrow for "Startup type"
Select: Manual, click Apply/Ok and restart.

Once you make that change, Now reboot! Have fun. My system is clean, no more problems.

Hope this helps someone out there....