God i must sound like an ultimate newb lol.
Generally or almost all the time i just don't click next, next, next etc lol.
i've down loaded things in cnet in the past with no issues of this sort before.
But i guess cnet is not what is was in the past.
It is odd even after reinstalling win 8.1 pro at least 6 times the hijacked tool bar was still there.
When installing 8.1, microsoft does ask if i have a hotmail account (which i do) and i need to use it to sign in. If i don't have an account, i have to sign up for one.
So, is it because i'm signing in with my email account it's using that and that's why the hijacked tool bar was still there?
I did google the hijacked tool bars (condiut and mysearchdial) and there were youtube vids and other info on how to get rid of it. I did follow the steps and it seem to work.
I just want to make sure it's nothing serious or it's still embedded in my ssd some where before i get my new pc up and running and install games and what not. I don't want to install steam and other programs and come to find out that it's still there and i have to reformat my pc again.
When i googled the hijacked toolbars or browsers, it doesn't seem it's a nasty malware or anything.
Step #1: Don't download random programs from CNET without reading about them online first.
Step #2: Read the dialog boxes in the installer carefully. Do not just blindly click next, next, next. Many times programs will come bundled in with fairly useless toolbars as a form of revenue generation. These can nearly always be disabled by unchecking a box during installation.
Step #3: Never use IE. Even after 20 years, it is still the most broken and insecure browser out there.
As for the toolbar coming back after you reinstall Windows, do you have your login associated with your Live ID? If so, it is probably pulling your preferences from there. Here's how to change the search provider back to Google:
http://www.howtogeek.com/127766/how...ch-engine-in-windows-8s-internet-explorer-10/