Best way to remote access mom's computer

[Fubarable]

Mom's in another state, and I'm trying to help her load information from her thumb drive to her hard drive, but even this simple task is next to impossible as she cannot explain to me in terms I understand what she's doing and the state of her desktop, and I can't explain to her how to do it in terms she can understand. Does anyone know of any safe and free or cheap safe remote access software that would let me access her laptop from far away? Google lists many, but many of these look somewhat questionable to me.

Thanks

cross-post: http://www.coderanch.com/t/520202/md...ss-mom#2355763

[gcalvin]

Is this Windows? Which version?

-Gary-

[Fubarable]

Mine: Windows Vista, Mom's either Vista or Window's 7

[gcalvin]

Start | Help and Support... More Support Options... Windows Remote Assistance. She does that from her end, and there will be a wizard she can use to email you an invitation to remote in. It's pretty easy.

-Gary-

[Fubarable]

Thanks Gary; I didn't know that this was built in to Windows and will give it a try!

[WLW2011]

attempting to connect to remote PC using Remote Assistance on XP, recieved the following error: "A Remote Assistance connection could not be established because the DNS name of the remote computer could not be resolved."

Any ideas on how to resolve this?

Thanks!

[Muskar]

attempting to connect to remote PC using Remote Assistance on XP, recieved the following error: "A Remote Assistance connection could not be established because the DNS name of the remote computer could not be resolved."

Any ideas on how to resolve this?

Thanks!

Now, I know that Windows' Remote Access program has some flaws in terms of accessing computers that share a public IP with other computers (so in short terms, computers on a network) - although I've been having enough networking lessons in school to understand that it is something I will probably never understand (mostly because it's a huge subject and that it's not interesting for me) fully, so I cannot tell you about your specific error.

Although, I can provide another solution:
I use "TeamViewer" - it's perfectly safe, doesn't even need install (you can if you want to, though), and is very easy to use, even for people who know not much more than how to open the browser etc. (I've been in this situation many times before).
I've actually never had any problems with it.

[Fubarable]

Although, I can provide another solution:
I use "TeamViewer" - it's perfectly safe, doesn't even need install (you can if you want to, though), and is very easy to use, even for people who know not much more than how to open the browser etc. (I've been in this situation many times before).
I've actually never had any problems with it.

Many thanks for your great suggestion! I look forward to seeing more of them on this forum! :)

[mackfrank]

i agree with muskar not to sound like spam but teamviewer has worked for me and my friends a couple of times. Did he ever make a good connection with his mom though?

[jjclark10]

Maybe you can do a much simpler thing. Why not share your screen on skype.. In that way, you are not really doing the labor but just teaching (your mom) how to do it.

[Muskar]

Maybe you can do a much simpler thing. Why not share your screen on skype.. In that way, you are not really doing the labor but just teaching (your mom) how to do it.

The idea itself is brilliant. What better thing could there be than teaching her to do it herself, instead of doing it for her?

If it wasn't for the unnecessarily complicated sign-up procedures that has to be followed in order to install the product in the first place, then I'd agree.

But not everyone understands more than how to click on something.

Otherwise I'd agree that this is one of the best solutions to date.

[jjclark10]

In my case, when my boss explains things to me, we usually do the share screen on skype. So, he is giving me a view of what i should do plus voice instructions. If i have questions, i can just immediately ask him. if the task is quite simple, then maybe you can do that.

[Muskar]

In my case, when my boss explains things to me, we usually do the share screen on skype. So, he is giving me a view of what i should do plus voice instructions. If i have questions, i can just immediately ask him. if the task is quite simple, then maybe you can do that.

I may have misunderstood the point of this post - but it seems to me that you misunderstood me.
I was agreeing that the fact that Skype's function is much better than Teamviewer. But the issue is getting from not having Skype installed, to having Skype installed.
On that point Teamviewer is a lot easier.
So if that point is impossible for the 'target', then Teamviewer will be a great alternative.

In case you were just giving an example of Skype's functionality, then meh... it was worth the explanation for further references anyway.

[Muskar]

Even though I doubt that anyone on this site specifically are unexperienced enough to click any of those links, I still think it's a shame that this forum has become so infested with spam bots. It's probably some nice guy saying thanks for all the programming help by showing off the bot he created.
*Unsubscribing ancient topic*