Removing Internet Explorer Toolbar Add-ons

[tcsenter]

Netzero Setup installs a toolbar called the Zerobar as an Add-on to Internet Explorer. Due to some type of flaw, Netzero installed TWO instances of the Zerobar on my system, but only removes one when I uninstalled Netzero software, leaving one instance of Zerobar behind. I have no intention of installing or using Netzero on this computer again, and I want the 'extra' instance of Zerobar completely removed (not hidden).

I have been wrangling with the most unbelievably incompetent tech support representatives from Netzero email support (PAT - Personal Assistance Ticket). After clearly explaining the problem I described above four times, emphasizing that I don't want to 'hide' or 'close' the Zerobar because I have no intention of using Netzero again, I keep getting the same response from Netzero support. A different support representative replies every time, and in slightly different words, tells me something along the lines of:

"Please note that these toolbars are designed for your comfort. If you wish not to view the Zerobar, you can close it by opening Internet Explorer, goto View and select Toolbars, then uncheck the option Zerobar. Please note that you can't delete Zerobar from your computer. It is a required component of the Netzero software."

I found several registry keys pertaining to Netzero and Zerobar (Toolbar and Toolband), but am not quite sure which to delete. Any guidance would be much appreciated.

 

[DennyD]

Go into Tools, Internet Options, then go to the Advanced tab. Uncheck "enable third party browser extentions then restart yer pc... It's a temp fix cuz it will also disable any that you want such as the Google toolbar.

 

[mechBgon]

Fire up Spybot Search & Destroy, switch to Advanced Mode, and rummage for BHOs. You may be able to simply remove it there.

 

[tcsenter]

Thanks for the replies. Spybot didn't find it at all as a BHO, and I'd prefer not to disable all Third Party Browser Extensions.

I finally removed it through a bit of trial and error, no thanks to Netzero support. My first attempt to delete the offending registry keys resulted in the text "Zerobar" being removed from the Toolbar menu, but its position on the Toolbar menu remained, leaving two 'placeholders' with no text. Kind of hard to describe, but it was apparent I deleted something I shouldn't have.

So I used System Restore to roll-back, then started deleting registry keys one at a time, restarting between each. This seemed to work, even though I ultimately deleted all the same keys as I did before, just not all of them in one session.

Netzero simply stopped replying to my requests. This marks the fourth time I've had problems with their software, the fourth time I have sought assistance from Netzero Support, and the fourth time I have either solved my own problem or simply gave up after a lengthy exchange with these idiots. Not once have they been of any assistance, not even a little bit.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Hijackthis should help you get rid of them

 

[DennyD]

If you got SP2 installed you can select which 3rd party extention you want to disable.
Or just get Firefox hehehehe....

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: DennyD
If you got SP2 installed you can select which 3rd party extention you want to disable.
Or just get Firefox hehehehe....

Disabling the extension through IE Add-on Manager doesn't remove the item from the toolbar menu, it greys the item out so that it can't be selected/deselected. I wanted it removed from my system - gone.

I didn't think about HijackThis. I'll keep that in mind for future pesky add-ons that don't uninstall as they're supposed to. At any rate, its gone now. Thanks for the replies.

 

[Gioron]

Heh, too bad you fixed it, I was about to suggest you just ignore IE and use Firefox.

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: Gioron
Heh, too bad you fixed it, I was about to suggest you just ignore IE and use Firefox.

Yeah, thanks anyway. If I want recommendations for an alternative to MSIE, I'll ask.