"Are you up for the possibility of switching to another operating system. I switched to Ubuntu last year ..."
I don't think this guy is ready for Linux.
Anyway, once you get things repaired, get these FREE programs and run them regularly (at least once per week):
AdAware:
http://www.lavasoft.com/
SpyBot:
http://www.safer-networking.org/index2.html
Also get an anti-virus program. I use AVG, and despite it being free and "weak," to this day I have yet to get a virus, and I'm sort of obsessive compulsive about Internet security:
http://www.grisoft.com/
Again, run it at least once per week. I run it once a day. Keep it updated, otherwise its useless.