I've been told that to properly rid your computer of spyware, that you need to use at least 3 different programs to handle the different types of spyware. Is this true? What else should I know?

I run McAfee for my main protection. I also run Spybot Search and Destroy (free) and Adaware (also free) these work well together and one will almost always find something that the other missed.

Your talking to the right person on this one
Get Malwarebytes update it run it
Get SuperAntispyware update it run it
Get A good Antivirus like Sophos or Avira, Avira is free by the way,
You can also use Spybot search and destroy, or Adaware
Sometimes you need to rename the executible of the program your running to let it run, you see the spyware knows what the .exe is called and you have to rename it to be able to run it, if you run it and it shuts down before you can even run it, try renaming the .exe file, then try running it, anyhow i hope this gets you clean if it doesn't you might need professional help like me, there is alot more you can do, 1 thing i forgot to tell you is alot of these antivirus companies offer boot disc's avira has one, you download as a .iso, burn it to a cd and boot with it and clean your system, anyhow good luck.

I just reinstall windows and format my hd about once every two weeks. another suggestion would be to use linux.

According to www.av-comparatives.org (an independant antivirus comparison site) and personal use the best antivirus is ESET followed by FSecure and Kasperkey.

Next the antispyware packages, the best solutions are malwarebytes.org and spy emergency

The your rootkit detectors, misc scanners it's blacklight and avert scanner.

Security is no one programs. The overall system must be secure so shutting down serives your not using will not only speed up your copmputer but also make it more secure. Also a proper hosts file can make the difference between a malware install and problem as well as blocvking most recognised phishing and parasite installer sites.

Lots and lots of facts and figures but one thing is clear. Linux has none of these problems...

not true

No mate, Zonealarm and AVG will do, and both are free :)

This really puzzles me.
I have always used McAfee but only rarely have I been informed it has found anything. Yet my computer still slows with time, or age.
I have used other spyware programs with more dramatic detection rates, until I realized they were pulling down parts of genuine software.
I discarded the spyware programs and returned to reliance on my boring uneventfull McAfee.
So I'm still not sure if anything is working as it should.