Is this possible?

[Fordman]

Hi All,

My mother lives about 300 miles away and constantly has computer issues. Usually self inflicted internet problems, but is there a way to remotely access her computer from my home so I can fix her issues from home? She calls me all the time about her issues and talking to her on the phone to try and fix the issues  can be an hour phone call for a 10 second fix! Love Mom dearly, but when I see her number show up, I know it is a computer issue that is going to make me not want to answer the call.

Usually her issues are downloading programs with spyware, adware, hijackers and toolbars. Once she had 17 toolbars at once and had only about 1" to read the screen.

I'm willing to pay for a service if it is available. I have had to make the 300 mile trip to fix the computer just to find out that it was a spyware issues or something like that.

Any Thoughts?

Fordman

[Hoopz]

Can you remotely connect to her PC via yours to make changes?

And I totally sympathize with you about this.  I love it when my mom or her business partner call and say that they need help.  They read everything freaking word on every freaking window, balloon or whatever and it drives me crazy.  I actually walked my mom through installing a video card last week.  I was a wreck when I got off the phone...

[J_K_M_A_N]

Try RealVNC. That is what I use to fix my brothers system. The fun part is setting it up on her system especially if she has a router. Gotta get the port forwarded. I usually have him run it so it isn't always running leaving him open. Then I close it when I am done. And he can watch me and once in a great while he will have the same problem and remember how to fix it from watching me fix it over and over.

I also recommend getting avast if she doesn't have it. It is free for home use and it updates itself for the most part. That helps for people who don't know what they are doing.

Good luck!

J_K_M_A_N

[Fordman]

Can you remotely connect to her PC via yours to make changes?

I guess that is what I want to do. She is using XP Pro, but I'm using Win7.

Thanks for the help!
 
Keep the help coming!

Fordman

[flashiv]

I use Crossloop.

http://www.crossloop.com/download.htm?get_free=f66584817595999ccb79c75e9877e74309c1c2a7aa2de02f858f6f465655ae7ee47f60533dc0a101&get_win_free&

I even talked a little old lady (70 years young  ) through installing it.  I use it all the time to fix her PC.  You don't even have to sign up for their free account, just download.

[JMB]

You could also use Remote Assistance that comes with Windows..

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

[Blanka]

Any VNC Client should do the trick.

After that:
Install IE 8 or FF
Don't let her use any gnutella-app, Kazaa or crap like that.
Install uTorrent + ThePiratebay plugin for safe downloads
Update windows with the latest servicepacks and updates.

[JMB]

Remote assistance only works with XP Pro, and XP Pro isn't typically installed on cheapo computers.  There's hacks to enable it but they don't work.  I've gone round and round on this for the same reasons as Fordman.

Definitely checking out Cross Loop.

She is using XP Pro,

[mountain]

I use Ultra VNC all of the time. Works great and is free.

[Fordman]

Wow, so I see Im not alone here with trying to walk people through their issues on the phone just to go crazy on my end!  

Thanks for all the help and Im looking into Ultra VNC and Crossloop now!

I assume you have to have the programs installed on both computers. Here come the hour  of getting this up and going on her end! 

Thanks for all the help!

 

Fordman

[RayB]

Install Win 7 and instruct her to always say NO to the prompt that warns that something is attempting an installation.

That or get her an iPad. Sounds like the perfect candidate for one.

;-)

[protokatie]

There is always logmein free, that is what I have on all of my computers (I have a headless fileserver and that is my primary way of accessing it). Its easy to set up, no port forwarding or anything. Once you set up your free account, call her and have her log into your logmein account and click on add computer. That will add her computer to the list that you can remote control.

[NiN^_^NiN]

Yeah id go with logmein aswell as you can setup an account at ur place then just get her to download the software and then give her the username and password and your setup.

It's how i support all my families computers

[protokatie]

To prevent any potential confusion, AFAIK, you cannot just DL the logmein client. You can setup the account on any computer, but have to do this before you can even get a client. To add the software client to another computer, you must log into the logmein account on that computer and click "add this computer" on the account screen. This will then DL the client onto that computer.

I haven't used the Mac or Iphone version of logmein tho, so NIN's method may be the way it works on those platforms. Regardless, the site is step-by-step.

[Fordman]

I went with logmein.com and all is well! Easy to use and having Mom do her part on her end was easy as well! 


Thanks for all the suggestions and advice! This was the BIG Tylenol that I needed! 

 

Fordman

[protokatie]

Ahh good to hear!

LogMeIn is good for about 90% of peoples' needs for remote access. Many of the other suggestions are good for other applications. I myself have been thinking about using a RC method that does not require an internet connection. Then again I went around this with some "creative" batch file writing for primitive remote control over LAN.