How to automate tasks such as seting up mailbox in Outlook express?

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gino

Hi folks,

I frequently meet with difficulties in helping my father setting up his
computer; he is on the other side of the world, so REMOTE ASSISTANCE does
not work well for me to help him: the Internet connection is too slow
between him and me.

But he is not very familiar with computer, he often needs my help. This time
I am facing a question on how to help him set up his mailbox account in
OUTLOOK EXPRESS.

I want to ask if I can automate what I do here on my computer and then
record the whole procedure as a video to let him follow what I've done in
setting up my account. This is the first level of help.

Moreover, I hope to be able to wrap the procedure of setting-up as a script
file or a EXE file, that can run the exactly same procedures on his
computer; thus he does not even need to follow any thing. Everything is
automated. This is the second level of help.

My father is old so I hope by doing this he does not need to learn English
and computer.

Anybody has any thoughts on how to fulfill the above two levels of help?
Which softwares are the best in doing the above things?

Thanks a lot,

-Gino
 
Hi Gino,

I admire your situation and older computer users. :o)

But, as you know, this is not a difficult task. It only involves:
Incoming, Outgoing, user name and password. I would suggest having him seek
his ISP provider and asking them to either set it up for him (and bill you
if needed) or endure the patience it takes via remote assistance and help
him yourself.

Hope all goes well.
 
I have an old father, too. He dont like computers at all. I feel I like your
father better. :-)

Software like Lotus officesuit offers a recording function, and you can get
one.

Software and automatic "robots" are high techs. How about a more traditional
way, instructions?

You can translate an instruction online, edit with Word, and send it to your
parents.

Online instructions examples below:
http://wally.rit.edu/instruction/software/outexp/
http://www.acesoftware.com.my/outlook.html
http://mail.utla.net/help/help.htm
http://www.csupomona.edu/~ehelp/email/instruction_guide_intranet_express_pc.html
 
gino said:
Hi folks,

I frequently meet with difficulties in helping my father setting up his
computer; he is on the other side of the world, so REMOTE ASSISTANCE does
not work well for me to help him: the Internet connection is too slow
between him and me.

But he is not very familiar with computer, he often needs my help. This time
I am facing a question on how to help him set up his mailbox account in
OUTLOOK EXPRESS.

I want to ask if I can automate what I do here on my computer and then
record the whole procedure as a video to let him follow what I've done in
setting up my account. This is the first level of help.

Moreover, I hope to be able to wrap the procedure of setting-up as a script
file or a EXE file, that can run the exactly same procedures on his
computer; thus he does not even need to follow any thing. Everything is
automated. This is the second level of help.

My father is old so I hope by doing this he does not need to learn English
and computer.

Anybody has any thoughts on how to fulfill the above two levels of help?
Which softwares are the best in doing the above things?

Thanks a lot,

-Gino
Click to expand...

What I do for my sister is use CTRL-ALT-Print Screen to copy to active
window to the clipboard. Then I paste the image into a document {usually
HTML format email} but any programs, such as Wordpad, that can accept images
will work. Then I add text to explain what needs to be done. Repeat as
many times as needed.

Don
 
gino said:
Hi folks,

I frequently meet with difficulties in helping my father setting up his
computer; he is on the other side of the world, so REMOTE ASSISTANCE does
not work well for me to help him: the Internet connection is too slow
between him and me.

But he is not very familiar with computer, he often needs my help. This time
I am facing a question on how to help him set up his mailbox account in
OUTLOOK EXPRESS.

I want to ask if I can automate what I do here on my computer and then
record the whole procedure as a video to let him follow what I've done in
Click to expand...


Thank you all for your help. But still, I feel the easiest thing for us to
do is to make a automatated script file that can run on my father's PC and
it takes care everything for him: just like some Microsoft installshield
stuff...

any more ideas? thanks a lot,

-Gino
 
Use a ins file. That's what an ISP does. Then you dbl click the file. I've attached one. Remove the ISP specific stuff and replace with your dad's details.
 
wayne said:
Gino:

I know how you feel. I do computer support for a living so I also do it for
my neighbors, my 80 yr old father and all of his friends 2000 miles away!

What I would do is download the Internet Explorer Administration Kit. It is
designed for business to customize their installs of IE6 and Outlook
express. Take a look at it and see if it will work for you. You might need
to burn a CD due to file size

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ieak/downloads/ieak6/ieak6sp1.mspx


Wayne
Click to expand...

Dear Wayne

Thansk you a lot. That worked for us. Thank you!

-Gino
 
Use a ins file. That's what an ISP does. Then you dbl click the file. I've
attached one. Remove the ISP specific stuff and replace with your dad's
details.

--
----------------------------------------------------------
'Not happy John! Defending our democracy',
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/29/1088392635123.html

gino said:
Hi folks,

I frequently meet with difficulties in helping my father setting up his
computer; he is on the other side of the world, so REMOTE ASSISTANCE does
not work well for me to help him: the Internet connection is too slow
between him and me.

But he is not very familiar with computer, he often needs my help. This time
I am facing a question on how to help him set up his mailbox account in
OUTLOOK EXPRESS.

I want to ask if I can automate what I do here on my computer and then
record the whole procedure as a video to let him follow what I've done in
setting up my account. This is the first level of help.

Moreover, I hope to be able to wrap the procedure of setting-up as a script
file or a EXE file, that can run the exactly same procedures on his
computer; thus he does not even need to follow any thing. Everything is
automated. This is the second level of help.

My father is old so I hope by doing this he does not need to learn English
and computer.

Anybody has any thoughts on how to fulfill the above two levels of help?
Which softwares are the best in doing the above things?

Thanks a lot,

-Gino
Click to expand...



Dear David,

Thansk you a lot. That worked for us too. Thank you!

-Gino
 
MAYBE YOU CAN EDIT AN INFORMATION FILE OR A CONFIGURATION FILE, AS I KNOW.
ALL THE SETUP PROCESSES ARE GETHERING INFORMATIONS.
 
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