I assume you have checked your control panel and your internet options and the "home page" box under the "general" tab and checked its current contents. Some scripties insert code into pop-ups which overwrite this address. Since it goes to this page when IE opens - thats the first place I'd look.

I'm not too familiar with any other techniques for implanting files of that nature but maybe someone else can help.

In a worst case scenario you can copy all your vulnerable files onto a cd-rom and then rewrite over the hard drive. But that's a really last ditch effort.

The WORST possible virus is one which writes itself to your BIOS. One of our system users was downloading "free" music and destroyed a perfectly good motherboard with a nasty virus courtesy of the music/entertainment industry.

Some folks out there don't play nice.

SDAI-Tech1