Got infected w/ malware: Antivirus XP

Hi,

Don't know how, but I got infected w/ a malware program masquerading as an antivirus program.  It's called Antivirus XP and mimics the native Windows Security center, and AVG.  I probably have the newest version of this malicious crap.

I couldn't launch any apps because it would always bring up that stupid app.  I looked in my registry and there was were two entries in
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe\shell\open\command
(Default)                 "C:\Documents and Settings\Gene\Local Settings\Application Data\ave.exe" /START "%1" %*
IsolatedCommand     "%1" %*

I didn't know whether the .exe entry was changed or added, so I renamed it to ".exeX".  After that I was able to launch applications.  However, the bad entry remains in my registry, just renamed.

I did some searching and a program called MalwareBytes was recommended.  However, when launched it doesn't update properly, just hanging.  I do have internet access on this machine, so that's not the problem.  So the program didn't work for me.

My concern is that if I reboot, it could start up again.  I don't know which files to delete, or which entries in msconfig or whereever.  Before deleting the registry entry, I searched for ave.exe and could only find it as ave.exe****.pf  (the **** were some numbers).  However, the program still launched.

How can I delete this crap for good??

Thanks!