BleepingComputer.com: Search(google, etc) redirects. Also cookies won't save(?)

I let my friend borrow my old laptop for about 6 months. In the last 2 months he had it he got a virus. He did some scans I told him to like housecall, etc. He seems to have removed the virus, but he stil had redirect problems. Well I finally got it back recently, and I've noticed the seemingly completely random ridirects when using google, plus I noticed that I cannot seem to save cookie settings(well at least under google anyways.) I managed to remove something called Hotfix.exe, and some other very random trojans with Microsoft Essentials and a combination of Housecall. I wish to get rid of the random redirects, but I have tried everything I can think of. Hence I need your guy's advice! Help rid me of this annoying virus!

Also I'm running:

Microsoft Windows XP
Home Edition
Version 2002
Service Pack 3

Intel Pentium 4 CPU 2.80GHz
2.79Ghz 2.00 GB of RAM

Thanks! -Salmon

This post has been edited by Blade Zephon: 26 November 2010 - 01:12 AM
Reason for edit: Moved from XP to AII. ~BZ

Hello and welcome please run these next. If you have Spybot installed temporarily disable it.
Next run ATF:
Note: On Vista, "Windows Temp" is disabled. To empty "Windows Temp" ATF-Cleaner must be "Run as an Administrator".

Please download ATF Cleaner by Atribune & save it to your desktop.

• Double-click ATF-Cleaner.exe to run the program.
  
• Under Main "Select Files to Delete" choose: Select All.
  
• Click the Empty Selected button.
  
• If you use Firefox browser click Firefox at the top and choose: Select All
  
• Click the Empty Selected button.
  If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.
  
• If you use Opera browser click Opera at the top and choose: Select All
  
• Click the Empty Selected button.
  If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.
  
• Click Exit on the Main menu to close the program.

Next run MBAM (MalwareBytes):

Please download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and save it to your desktop.

Download Link 1
Download Link 2

MBAM may "make changes to your registry" as part of its disinfection routine. If using other security programs that detect registry changes (ie Spybot's Teatimer), they may interfere or alert you. Temporarily disable such programs or permit them to allow the changes.

• Make sure you are connected to the Internet.
  
• Double-click on mbam-setup.exe to install the application.
  For instructions with screenshots, please refer to the How to use Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Guide.
  
• When the installation begins, follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
  
• When installation has finished, make sure you leave both of these checked:
  • Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
    
  • Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
  
  
• Then click Finish.

MBAM will automatically start and you will be asked to update the program before performing a scan.

• If an update is found, the program will automatically update itself. Press the OK button to close that box and continue.
  
• If you encounter any problems while downloading the definition updates, manually download them from here and just double-click on mbam-rules.exe to install.

On the Scanner tab:

• Make sure the "Perform Quick Scan" option is selected.
  
• Then click on the Scan button.
  
• If asked to select the drives to scan, leave all the drives selected and click on the Start Scan button.
  
• The scan will begin and "Scan in progress" will show at the top. It may take some time to complete so please be patient.
  
• When the scan is finished, a message box will say "The scan completed successfully. Click 'Show Results' to display all objects found".
  
• Click OK to close the message box and continue with the removal process.

Back at the main Scanner screen:

• Click on the Show Results button to see a list of any malware that was found.
  
• Make sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
  
• When removal is completed, a log report will open in Notepad.
  
• The log is automatically saved and can be viewed by clicking the Logs tab in MBAM.
  
• Copy and paste the contents of that report in your next reply. Be sure to post the complete log to include the top portion which shows MBAM's database version and your operating system.
  
• Exit MBAM when done.

Note: If MBAM encounters a file that is difficult to remove, you will be asked to reboot your computer so MBAM can proceed with the disinfection process. If asked to restart the computer, please do so immediately. Failure to reboot normally (not into safe mode) will prevent MBAM from removing all the malware.

Troubleshoot Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware