You Can't Always Fix Computers Remotely

Our Hong Kong office had a computer that was infected with a virus. Supposedly they had run antivirus software several times and had been unable to clean it, even after updating their virus definitions. I was asked to diagnose and fix the computer immediately, because it wouldn't even turn on.

Me: "Sure thing. When do you want me to fly over?"

Him: "Can't you do it from there?"

Me: "Sure, just ship it to me."

Him: "No, I mean can't you just fix it here, from there?"

Me: "Uh...how exactly would you like me to do that?"

Him: "I don't know. You're the expert!"