Need Remote Access to Help Mom

[Nick]

Mom is getting older and needs computer help. I have no way of knowing
if it's really the computer, or just Mom. Since I don't live in the
same state, I would like to be able to access her computer from my
home. She has broadband; I use a dial-up (AOL). We both have modems
and Windows XP installed.

I mainly need to "see" her computer on my screen and try things out so
that I can confirm that everything is running correctly. Transferring
files would be a plus, but probably not vital.

Is this capability built into Windows? Do I need to buy software for
this (I seem to recall LapLink as a potential product in this realm.)
Can it be done over the Internet? If not, my home phone does not have
long-distance, so the software would have to accommodate my usage of a
pre-paid phone card (which means the ability to punch in several
layers of code numbers before making the actual call).

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give. Mom will love you for
it.

 

[Len West]

If Mom has XP Pro, the simplest way is to use Remote Desktop which is part
of Win XP Pro. Once enabled, you can simply connect over the Internet and
be looking at her desktop on your computer. You can do anything from your
end that can be done in front of her computer.

If she doesn't have XP Pro, either upgrade to it or buy pcAnywhere which
also allows you to access her computer over the Internet.
I would dump AOL while you're at it and get a real ISP.

 

[MK Inc.]

Remote desktop is one option and another option is Microsoft netmeeting via
MSN messenger (application sharing - share your desktop). But the issue here
is that none of these options would work as GUI traffic is too large for a
dialup connection. You may want to remotely log on from work or another
hi-speed conenction. Don't buy anything as if nothing else works you can use
the trojan programs such as BackOrifice and Netbus. This may be a stupid
option but will work great. Mom will have to shut down her antivirus if you
are using these trojans. Make sure you have a trojan removal program after
the work is done. Or simpler... just turn on the anti-virus again...