Remote access for my parents

[Will_in_SF]

Hi.

Just recently my father accidently clicked something he didn't mean to
while accessing his Windows Media Player. He called me from the East
Coast immediately. Unfortunately, I'm on the Pacific Coast and he woke
me up at 6:00am. He tried to tell me what was wrong and I tried to
walk him through the steps to fix. Well, since he didn't know computer
lingo and I couldn't explain it in a way that would fix it right away,
he got frustrated. My sisters and I just convinced my parents to get a
computer and now after this ordeal, he wants to toss it. I need some
advice on what program is the best for remote access? What should I
know about remote access? And how do I quickly learn it and set it up
on both computers, so that next time, I can walk him through it without
him feeling confused and frustrated? (I'll make sure my sister or
nephew, who is computer savvy, to install it on their end.)

Thanks.

 

[Sooner Al [MVP]]

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA256

If your both running XP then look at using Remote Assistance... Go to
"Start -> Help and Support" and search on the string "remote assistance"...

- --

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...

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[Will_in_SF]

Thanks for the suggestion. I looked it up and, unfortunately, my
parents use Yahoo! as their email instead of Outlook or Outlook
Express. To try to get my Dad to use an email program instead of a
web-based email is not an option at the moment. Any other suggestions?

 

[Sooner Al [MVP]]

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA256

Use the messenger method...

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/remoteassist/intro.mspx

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;305608

- --

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...

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[Leythos]

Hi.

Just recently my father accidently clicked something he didn't mean to
while accessing his Windows Media Player. He called me from the East
Coast immediately. Unfortunately, I'm on the Pacific Coast and he woke
me up at 6:00am. He tried to tell me what was wrong and I tried to
walk him through the steps to fix. Well, since he didn't know computer
lingo and I couldn't explain it in a way that would fix it right away,
he got frustrated. My sisters and I just convinced my parents to get a
computer and now after this ordeal, he wants to toss it. I need some
advice on what program is the best for remote access? What should I
know about remote access? And how do I quickly learn it and set it up
on both computers, so that next time, I can walk him through it without
him feeling confused and frustrated? (I'll make sure my sister or
nephew, who is computer savvy, to install it on their end.)

Get them to download and install VNC, walk them through it at the same
time as you install it - they only need the server part. Then have them
configure it for a non-standard port, something like tcp/42558 and apply
a password. Now when they connect to the internet you can connect to
their computer and SEE exactly what they are doing and take control of
their mouse/keyboard actions. If they have a NAT Router, and they
should, then you need to forward that port inbound to their computer
also.

We use this method with many residential users and it's been a great
tool to help people outside your local area.