Easiest way to operate a computer remotely?

I know there are many ways to do this but I have a very tiny mind and need
something simple to enable me to provide PC support for my mother.

At present I have headbangingly frustrating conversations over the phone
trying to talk her through her problems (which are usually simple email
login problems) and it would be so much easier if I could access her PC and
remotely take control.

What's the simplest (free) way of doing this? Both our machines are running
XP.

Tim

On 21/05/2010 in message <ht5oao$efr$(E-Mail Removed)> Tim
Downie wrote:

>What's the simplest (free) way of doing this? Both our machines are
>running XP.

XP's remote assistance works well in this type of situation:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ist/intro.mspx

You would have to make sure your mother has WLM and can use it.

--
Jeff Gaines Dorset UK
Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his friends for his
life.
(Jeremy Thorpe, 1962)

Jeff Gaines wrote:
> On 21/05/2010 in message <ht5oao$efr$(E-Mail Removed)> Tim
> Downie wrote:
>
>> What's the simplest (free) way of doing this? Both our machines are
>> running XP.
>
> XP's remote assistance works well in this type of situation:
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ist/intro.mspx
>
>
> You would have to make sure your mother has WLM and can use it.
>

It is also possible to run a VNC server on XP. Freeware. And once
installed, iirc there's little knowledge needed. You don't say what
bandwidth connection you'll be using.


--
Mike Scott (unet2 <at> [deletethis] scottsonline.org.uk)
Harlow Essex England

"Mike Scott" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:ht5vb7$piv$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Jeff Gaines wrote:
>> On 21/05/2010 in message <ht5oao$efr$(E-Mail Removed)> Tim
>> Downie wrote:
>>
>>> What's the simplest (free) way of doing this? Both our machines are
>>> running XP.
>>
>> XP's remote assistance works well in this type of situation:
>> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ist/intro.mspx
>> You would have to make sure your mother has WLM and can use it.
>>
>
> It is also possible to run a VNC server on XP. Freeware. And once
> installed, iirc there's little knowledge needed. You don't say what
> bandwidth connection you'll be using.
>
>
> --
> Mike Scott (unet2 <at> [deletethis] scottsonline.org.uk)
> Harlow Essex England

What you really need is teamviewer.
http://www.teamviewer.com/index.aspx
Its free always a bonus and very easy to use.

On Fri, 21 May 2010 11:46:50 +0100
"Tim Downie" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> I know there are many ways to do this but I have a very tiny mind and
> need something simple to enable me to provide PC support for my
> mother.
>
> At present I have headbangingly frustrating conversations over the
> phone trying to talk her through her problems (which are usually
> simple email login problems) and it would be so much easier if I
> could access her PC and remotely take control.
>
> What's the simplest (free) way of doing this? Both our machines are
> running XP.

TightVNC is free, cross-platform and not too much of a bandwidth hog.

On 5/21/2010 5:46 AM, Tim Downie wrote:
> I know there are many ways to do this but I have a very tiny mind and
> need something simple to enable me to provide PC support for my mother.
>
> At present I have headbangingly frustrating conversations over the phone
> trying to talk her through her problems (which are usually simple email
> login problems) and it would be so much easier if I could access her PC
> and remotely take control.
>
> What's the simplest (free) way of doing this? Both our machines are
> running XP.
>
> Tim

I have used the program Crossloop to take over remote control of a
friends computer (at his request) in order to fix a problem. They have
pay versions as well as a free one, with fewer features.

http://www.crossloop.com/download.ht...ownload_footer

I have used Crossloop along with Skype at both ends to talk over the
problems with a friends computer as well rather than tie up a phone
line. Most people like to be able to ask you questions while you work
on their computer remotely even though it can get distracting...


Another program that has been recommended to me by other technicians is
TeamViewer. It appears to have even more features and is free for
private users according information on the web link below.

http://www.teamviewer.com/solutions/support.aspx

It appears that this application includes a built in Skype type
interface as well, if you activate it, but I have not actually used the
TeamViewer myself yet.

"Tim Downie" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:ht5oao$efr$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I know there are many ways to do this but I have a very tiny mind and need
> something simple to enable me to provide PC support for my mother.
>
http://teamviewer.com/index.aspx

In message <ht5oao$efr$(E-Mail Removed)>, Tim Downie
<(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>I know there are many ways to do this but I have a very tiny mind and
>need something simple to enable me to provide PC support for my mother.
>
>At present I have headbangingly frustrating conversations over the
>phone trying to talk her through her problems (which are usually simple
>email login problems) and it would be so much easier if I could access
>her PC and remotely take control.
>
>What's the simplest (free) way of doing this? Both our machines are
>running XP.
>
>Tim

Not sure if it will work with XP but I've used Logmein to help my
mother/rest of the family out.
--
Richard. ** http://www.grange.demon.co.uk **
"Snarl, Growl, Kill, Maim, Murder!!" - Sig Vicious

"Richard Sutherland" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> In message <ht5oao$efr$(E-Mail Removed)>, Tim
> Downie <(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>>I know there are many ways to do this but I have a very tiny
>>mind and need something simple to enable me to provide PC
>>support for my mother.
>>
>>At present I have headbangingly frustrating conversations over
>>the phone trying to talk her through her problems (which are
>>usually simple email login problems) and it would be so much
>>easier if I could access her PC and remotely take control.
>>
>>What's the simplest (free) way of doing this? Both our
>>machines are running XP.
>>
>>Tim
>
> Not sure if it will work with XP but I've used Logmein to help
> my mother/rest of the family out.
> --
> Richard. ** http://www.grange.demon.co.uk **
> "Snarl, Growl, Kill, Maim, Murder!!" - Sig Vicious
>



Have a look here
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...y/default.mspx

Most IT staff when helping on line use Remote Desktop which works
well and is very effective.

Otherwise consider VNC.



--
Woody

harrogate three at ntlworld dot com

The easiest and the most user friendly way of doing this is by using TeamViewer. When you stat team viewer you get an unique id and a password (it is changed every time you close the program) and if you give the ID and the password to an another TW user they can connect to your PC. It is really fast and free to use.