Computer networking question

[DaveTN]

I spend a lot of time on the phone with my elderly parents trying to help them with simple computer tasks.

Is there a way for me to have control of their computer and them be able to see what I am doing?

Also, can I add video conferencing or something to be able to see and talk to them?

What’s involved software and hardware wise?

They are running XP home on an AT&T DSL connection and I am running XP Media Center on Comcast cable.

Thanks

[BenS]

Since they are running XP, the answer is yes. No video conferencing though. Have them look in the start menu for Remote Assistance. It will ask them a couple of questions (most notably is your email address). As long as they have internet connectivity, you will be able to connect up to see their current session, or desktop

[Guest Mugster]

Don't think XP home has that. Think you need XP pro.

[Guest Mugster]

Here's this thing. I haven't used it, but it is supposedly pretty good. The guy that wrote it is a famous programmer.

https://www.copilot.com/

I don't know of a free service like this.

[dunndw]

for the remote control part, try logmein. (www.logmein.com). Their free account will give you remote control of up to 5 PCs. Log into logmein, and setup your account.

call them, and talk them through adding their computer to your account. You'll have remote control of their system.

Another free option is VNC, but I like Log me in better.

[Guest clutepc]

for the remote control part, try logmein. (www.logmein.com). Their free account will give you remote control of up to 5 PCs. Log into logmein, and setup your account.

call them, and talk them through adding their computer to your account. You'll have remote control of their system.

Another free option is VNC, but I like Log me in better.

I go with dunndw on that one, we use logmein just for those situations I'm sure it'll do just what you need.

The free account is nice just remember you can't transfer files or anything of that nature with it. We just upload anythig we need to install to a ftp site and download it from the remote system directly. Or like a lot of software you can find it on download.com

I'm not a big fan of RDP and VNC but that's another story.

Oh as far as the Video conference, try Skype, it seems to do a pretty good job of that, http://skype.com

It's free for PC to PC and if you pay for the service you can use it for VOIP calls which also works well.

Most of the instant message programs do this now, MSN, Yahoo.etc...

[saintsfanbrian]

Mugster,

XP Home does have the ability to request remote assistance just not offer it.

Anyway, I like the Logmein, copilot, webex, any number of utilities out there to do this. Go to meeting or go to my pc are other options.

Helping people has become so easy now that we have these tools. In the early days of support it sucked trying to walk some one through just getting to the start menu.

[shaftbass]

for the remote control part, try logmein. (www.logmein.com). Their free account will give you remote control of up to 5 PCs. Log into logmein, and setup your account.

call them, and talk them through adding their computer to your account. You'll have remote control of their system.

Another free option is VNC, but I like Log me in better.

This is what i use. It's awesome and free. It'll do everything you want. Everything else blows and involves disabling firewalls, sending requests, finding out IP addresses, etc.

Use logmein if you want the easiest way.

[dunndw]

If it's "urgent" and you can't talk them through loading the software, Logmein has a "logmein rescue" that sends a link to the remote site to be clicked on to start the remote session. You could use it once to install the remote software.

Too bad the rescue version is 100.00 a month for acccess after the free trail...I'd use the hell out of it.

[Guest canynracer]

I think you should use the internal connect that comes with XP pro...you cvan download the remote software for Home edition...

the other software works too, but could cause security vuneralbilities that you may not want to deal with. I have never used the stuff the others are talking about, but I work for a Fortune 100 comapny and a leader in IT...we use RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) Like I said, no install necessary for your parents...and you can downoad the client from Microsoft for xp Home.

my two cents

[dunndw]

Logmein uses 256 bit encryption, and a username and password combo to log into your account. You can also set it up to use LONG access codes.

You log into your account

logme in sends your email account you signed up with an email with the access code to coomplete the connection.

if it was a LAN I'd use RDP as well. Having to use the "public" internet I think logmein would be a bit safer.

Logmein also has apprivate virtual VPn product that you can use to create private VPN networks accross the internet for fire transfers, etc.

I use it to VPN all my PCs together so I can have secure remote file access. I've also used it to create a RDP connection over the internet.

It's rather slow, but better than nothing when you need IPSU to configure Cisco crap and you forgot to load it on your new laptop

[Guest canynracer]

sounds good!!! what ports does it use???

[overthemountain]

As far as video conferencing goes... A couple of $10 or $20 webcams and Yahoo will do. Grab a couple of microphones and there you go. Quick and cheap. For a while in the late '90s BestBuy and CompUSA were always showing up with $20 webcams with $20 mailin rebates. I collected about a dozen of them for scenarios just like this.

[DaveTN]

Thanks for all the responses.

I’m trying LogMeIn. But it appears that it is a 14 day trial, not free.

Don’t the people at LogMeIn have access to all the computers that have an account?

[Guest clutepc]

Thanks for all the responses.

I’m trying LogMeIn. But it appears that it is a 14 day trial, not free.

Don’t the people at LogMeIn have access to all the computers that have an account?

Once you get it setup go under subscription and change it to free.

As far as access from them no. One thing I like about this software is it requires two passwords, one for the account and one for the computer.

[Guest CrazyLincoln]

Logmein also has apprivate virtual VPn product that you can use to create private VPN networks accross the internet for fire transfers, etc.

I use it to VPN all my PCs together so I can have secure remote file access. I've also used it to create a RDP connection over the internet.

It's rather slow, but better than nothing when you need IPSU to configure Cisco crap and you forgot to load it on your new laptop

Sounds all too familiar. Hamachi is good stuff in a pinch....

We got a dedicated admin workstation and I still can't bring myself to remove ASDM from my laptop.

[shaftbass]

Thanks for all the responses.

I’m trying LogMeIn. But it appears that it is a 14 day trial, not free.

Don’t the people at LogMeIn have access to all the computers that have an account?

It is free, but you have to select the one that says free.

[DaveTN]

While I was at my folk’s home for Xmas I installed LogMeIn on their computer.

A couple of days ago they had some problems and called. I logged into LogMeIn and (after explaining to the nice folks at LogMeIn why I wanted to stay with the free version ) took control of their computer. It was great.

Thanks to all of you.