If they have no antivirus protection on the pc the first thing to do is get that set up and installed but do not run a scan yet. I prefer Avast free over AVG but if you choose to do AVG I would go with the light install without the add on stuff.
AVG 8.0 Free Edition FAQ

I would do disc clean and or cccleaner(not registry cleaning) first so you get rid of any unnecessary files, then get and install superantispyware free, install, update run full scan let it clean what it finds.
go on line to this site and let it run a scan.
Get a FREE Online Virus Scan

get and install spywareblaster, update and enable all protection.
I would not get ADAware or spybot. Instead I would get malwarebytes. Scans should be run weekly with superantispware and malwarebytes.
Once all that is done they can set the AV to do a scan when the pc is not active.
If they get Avast on the download page on the left is the pdf manual for install and user info follow those instructions including how to register it.
SUPERAntiSpyware
SpywareBlaster 4.1
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to your desktop.

* Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
* At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then click Finish.
* If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
* Once the program has loaded, select Perform full scan, then click Scan.
* When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
* Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.

avast! 4 Home Edition - FREE antivirus

make sure they have an active firewall or else turn on the windows firewall. And are current with windows critical updates.

After all is cleaned I would do a defrag.

Note if they have an AV program on the pc of course it must be fully removed before another program can be installed and run.

Then go into your add/remove programs list, check to make sure make sure your Java is current we can help with that. Remove programs your no longer using. Double check the recycle bin and empty it if needed.

After you are all done and you have rebooted several times you would want to see how many programs are running on the pc we can also help with that when you get to that point.

Without question one step was missed here. After cleaning up the H/D with whatever applications you choose and what order you choose, and before doing a Defragmentation, you should do an Error Checking of the H/D.

To complete this task My Computer>right click on the C:/ drive>Properties>Tool Tab> Error-Checking Check Now> select both appearing options>Start. When a window appears and presents a message regarding Startup allow the action.

This task will take a while so don't plan to sit and watch it. Just reboot the computer. Don't be startled as the task acts in a DOS-like screen and has 5 steps. When it is done it will continue booting automatically.

DA

That should keep her busy for a while!

I'll pass this on and wait to see how far she gets with it. Sure it will take a while.

In fact there are others here who might want to keep the info for their own use.

Thanks a lot.

Sue

ravencajun,
May I ask a question? Why do you suggest downloading AVG or Avast, but doing the online scan at eset.com? A friend asked me to help her install an AV program, etc and I plan to follow your "map" above. Can I just install AVG and do a scan after removing her old subscription AV program? Thanks for your help.

Pam

it is always best to do an online scan on any pc because if you happen to have had a type of infection that took control of aspects of your AV program which was on the pc it could have caused that AV program to be disabled or crippled. So doing a scan with a program that is NOT on the pc is a good check up on your actual installed AV. So anytime you are changing from one to another and want to make sure you are starting clean do an online scan, then once they have the new AV set up to their liking then run that scan also.

If the program is not run from on the pc then nothing on the pc can control it.

Thank you for your help, ravencajun. Ahhh, now it all makes sense. :)

Pam

* Posted by damccoy (My Page) on
Sun, Sep 14, 08 at 21:03

Without question one step was missed here. After cleaning up the H/D with whatever applications you choose and what order you choose, and before doing a Defragmentation, you should do an Error Checking of the H/D.

To complete this task My Computer>right click on the C:/ drive>Properties>Tool Tab> Error-Checking Check Now> select both appearing options>Start. When a window appears and presents a message regarding Startup allow the action.

This task will take a while so don't plan to sit and watch it. Just reboot the computer. Don't be startled as the task acts in a DOS-like screen and has 5 steps. When it is done it will continue booting automatically

Curious why you do a error checking? I have never done that and never even heard of it.