Quick Lauch Help

I have a problem with my quick lauch bar. I was in a hurry the other day and accidently downloaded some spy/malware program that installed this "Search Assistant". Well I removed it but it seems as though has some lingering side effects.

Problem 1: Kept getting this error that says can't find
"C:\windows\system32\bridge.dll"
Found this problem and fixed it by editing the registry to remove reference to this file, per instructions.

Problem 2: My quick lauch bar has taken a dump everytime the computer starts. I mean it doesn't load. I can right click, select toolbars, check Quicklaunch and it appears. But I have to do that every single time I want to see the Quick Lauch. This has been a problem ever since the spy/malware was inadvertently installed.

HOW DO I FIX MY QUICK LAUCH BAR. I've gone into Taskbar and Start Menu Properties and made sure that selection was checked. I just can't get the darn selection to STAY!

Help, you know how hard it is to use this PC w/o my quicklauch???

This may help
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm
Also search on this page for quick launch
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
http://extremetechsupport.org/forum/....phtml?t=21921

nope, no help. Its wierd...I can turn it on. But it just won't remember that I want it on. When I reboot, it acts like I never turned it on.

so the setting is not sticking in the registry... is system restore on?

Tried that too! It said there were not any changes to perform a system restore. I wasn't wanting to restore too far back out of fear that I would loose too much data.

Well I was thinking along the lines of turning it off and then seeing if it will stick.