Oh My God. I did it. I did it. I beat the ***ing shopping wizard / Search assistant ***ing spyware / adware loser thingy.
All of the methods on the Internet do NOT work as unless these 3 things are removed from 'add remove screen in control panel' they keep coming back.
(I feel like nerd):)
Here is what you need to do and items you need to download:
Regcleaner 4.3 (freeware)
Microsoft Antispyware (Beta) (free from Microsoft)
NoAdware3
The following steps work on Windows 2000 and Windows XP pro only and you have to be a part of a domain (not sure how it would work if you are a part of a worgroup..youll figure it out)
Step1: install all 3 apps and runf full scans and clean.
Step2: Open Explorer. Go to Windows and System32 folder. Right click first on System32 folder and click properties. Click 'security' tab. UnSelect 'write & modify' permissions for all users including administrators, power users etc.
why?: you want to restrict any changes to System32 folder. You dont want new file added to this folder.
Do the same for Windows or WINNT folder (wherever windows is installed).
Step3: in both Windows /WINNT & system32 folder delete any new file (dll and exe) created in last 3 day (or since day the adware problem started).
Step4:Run MS Antispyware again and scan and clean all issues
Step5:Run NoAdware3 again and do full scan and clean all issues
Step6: Run Regcleaner 4.3
step6a: select 'software' tab and click 'aurora' and click 'remove selected'
click and remove any file / program you are suspicious about.
step6b: select tab 'startup list' and click apphs.exe and click 'remove selected'. click and remove any file / program you are suspicious about.
step6c: select tab 'uninstall menu' and click the three loser adware/spywares :Home Search, Shopping wizard and Search assistant (exact names youll figure out). Click 'remove selected'
Step 7: open internet Explorer. Go to tools -> Manage addons. select 'class' :sysdz.dll and click 'disable'. restart internet explorer.
Go to tools and select 'reset websettings'
Remeber to clean all cookies and delete all temp files in internet explorer settings.
Close Internet explorer
Step 8: Open task manager. If you see aurora as a process..select end process tree.
Step 9: open 'Add remove programs' in control panel. the 3 annoying programs "Home Search Assistant, Shopping Wizard, and Search Extender" will have dissapeared. if not then repeat steps 6,6b and 6c.
Step 10: go have a beer. You have just eliminated one of the most annoying and almost impossible to remove adware / spyware from your computer.
Step 11: Restart Windows.
you might have to repeat one or more of the steps in different order to reach your goal.
The above procedure actually worked for me.
One issue: aurora.exe keeps coming back but does nothing.
If above works for you just let me know.