If Ad-Aware removed any files from the BearShare program folders
you can get it to restore them.

Enable the Hosts view and see if anything is happening in there.

If you're still having problems or Ad-Aware doesn't restore any files,
get BearDiag and post the resulting report at Technutopia, where the old
BearShare team is still operating.

Rare, AW... Very rare for Adaware to ever do anything to a BS file, right ?
I mean, I have NEVER seen that... Ever !

Wondering, davexxx, have you possibly enabled AdWatch ?
Doing so can be extremely problematic with any progs that need, in anyway, to alter registry values.
(Easy to get into some incredibly frustrating loops that will end with you uninstalling Adaware and then immediately bunging it right back in without AdWatch enabled !)

Also, you haven't exactly overwhelmed us here with any details, eh ?

I mean, WHAT BearShare version and what ELSE may have occurred and/or changed since your last successful BS session ?
What updates to whatever... ?

__________________
Fusion for REAL!--CDex 1.51--Wackyuses--Bitzi - Check Files Before Download !--.mp3 File Name Change Problems? Try Rename-It!--Alternate PORTS--Avast- Anti-Virus--WindowWasher--IrfanView--PC Pitstop - Test your PC !--Mac OSX Troubleshooting--GO .ape ! - For 'Lossless' Audio Compression--Port :6346 - Test If It Is 'Blocked'--Cole2k Codecs--OldVersion - Newer isn't always better !
Nod32 - Free Virus Scan: Use ESET's Online Antivirus Scanner

Tomorrow's forecast:
Sunni in places, Shi'ite in others...