A friend who is not very tech-savvy gave me her desktop computer that had some kind of infection. Internet explorer would stop working randomly, pop-ups on almost every page (more with every click even if you weren't clicking a link), and a fake message about adobe flash being out of date. I did some uninstalls, and I ran a few programs to look for the problem, most of which found and removed at least a few items. At some point, Internet Explorer began giving an error about the proxy server not responding. I can still ping websites just fine, but Internet Explorer won't load any pages. I first tried a system restore to the point when I started working on the computer, but it did not help, so I reverted that system restore. I followed the steps in this guide: http://malwaretips.com/blogs/the-proxy-server-isnt-responding-removal/ but it hasn't corrected the problem. I am using my laptop to access this forum, and I'm transferring programs and logs back and forth with an external hard drive. I have attached the logs requested, and would appreciate help quickly, as this computer is needed for her business. I look forward to your help.