Hey All,
   I am using windows XP but I think some of the problem I am having has to do with DOS.  I am getting popups continually even when I am not using a browser.  I have already used Ad-Aware to scan and Spybot to scan.  I am pretty sure it isn't anything on my pc.  someone told me though, that people can message your computer using DOS and your IP address.  I use this feature constantly.  I use it through the net send command in DOS prompt.  The only thing I don't get is how people can be sending HTML through this.  And if I have to EXEPT that there is a way to do this, I'm just not smart enough to completely understand it, I'm fine with that.  I at LEAST want to know how to dissable the IP messanging though so other people will not be ABLE to communicate with me through my IP address.  sure, I will miss talking to other computers on my LAN with this NEAT feature but if it stops my popup problems, I can make the sacrifice.
             thanksmuch for any help anyone can give me

P.S.  In the time it took me to write this message, around five minutes, I have recieved four popups.Hi, do you have MS firewall enabled? Or any other firewall? (Remember: only one software firewall per computer)
They should stop unsolicited inbound requests to messenger.
www.grc.com has a program to disable this called 'Kill the Messenger' or probably 'Shoot the Messenger'
I'm sure that if you search Google you will find plenty of info on how to secure your machine.

Derek.