Under IE Tweaks, there is an 'entry' for miscellaneous locks. One of them is locking the hosts file as read-only as protection against hackers. If this is checked and you later uninstall SpyBot without first unlocking the host file, will you have problems with either the host file or Internet Explorer 8? I am uncertain as the version I had at the time my friend uninstalled SpyBot for me. The program files still exist as of this writing, but I have also changed my anti-virus from Avast to my ISP's Norton 360, so I don't think I could re-install SpyBot Search and Destroy. Have used Norton's Safe Search and McAfee Site Advisor. McAfee Site Advisor still in use....

Oh, in case it matters, I have Windows Vista SP2. Thanks for any reply, any information.
quest803