First, it is almost criminally negligent to NOT have any Service Packs installed!
Go get SP4 from MS (free download) and install it as soon as possible!
Then do the full Windows-update (about 40 by now)!
Second, it is almost criminally negligent to NOT use Firefox in this day and age.
Go to
www.getfirefox.com and Install Firefox. From now on, ONLY use IE for Windows-updates, for everything else there is Firefox.
Your Avant is nothing but a pretty dress for IE, and just as dangerous!
UNinstall Avant!
Do both of the above AFTER you are clean.
Boot in Safe Mode.
Press Ctrl/Alt/Del simultaneously, select Taskmanager/Processes, select the process (if there), click "End Process" for:
winupdates.exe
winupdate.exe
Next, UNinstall anything to do with:
C:\Program Files\winupdates\winupdates.exe
C:\Program Files\winupdate\winupdate.exe
Next, run a HJT scan and place a tick-mark in the little square before (if still there):
...................................................................................................
C:\Program Files\winupdates\winupdates.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [winupdate] C:\Program Files\
winupdate\winupdate.exe /auto
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [winupdates] C:\Program Files\
winupdates\winupdates.exe /auto
ONLY fix this O17 if those IPs are NOT from YOUR ISP.
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{AA6EF316-67E6-424F-95A0-D15B872AAD35}: NameServer = 209.153.128.4 169.207.1.3
...................................................................................................
Now click on the
Fix Checked button in HJT.
When done, from between the dotted lines, delete the highlighted
bold files.
When a \
directory-name\ is
bold, delete everything in it, including that directory itself.
Delete all files and directories from: C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Local Settings\Temp
Repeat this for ALL [usernames].
Boot normal.