unfucking a computer, or ask lazy infected lj

[rmd]

So, I have a family member who got what's either a valid antivirus warning or a fake antivirus warning. I suggested shutting down the computer until I can get over there to deal with it.

What's the current set of good solutions for unfucking a computer? I'd like to be able to go over there with a usb drive full of antivirus/antispyware programs in case I need them.

ETA: It's a windows box. I forget what version. Vista, maybe? Might still be XP.

Comments

[koshmom.livejournal.com]

One last thing: Buy your family member a small cable router. Do NOT, by any means, let them plug the cable from the cable modem directly into their computer.

[rmd.livejournal.com]

Oh, there's a small cable router in place, and some antivirus running on it already. Which is why I'm not sure if it's a fake alert or not. (The fakes are good enough these days that I didn't want to rely on an over-the-phone description to determine which it was.)