My 87 yo mother just got internet :). Since she’s living quite long away, I’m trying to explain her how to use this internet thing over the phone. However, as you might imagine, she has trouble with it, gets easily frustrated, and also distracted : I tried tonight to explain to her how to send a mail but instead she somehow ended up visiting Canada on google satellite view that she had randomly found , asked for many explanations about it (“these numbers are the latitude and longitude mom” “I don’t know what you’re seeing and why. What did you click on already?”, etc…) and finally ended up tired and irritated because we hadn’t figured out the mail thing :smack:).
I thought it would be very helpulf to be able to see her screen , and it came to my mind that it’s exactly what our computer wizards do at my workplace or a former friend used to do over the internet.
So, is there an acceptably easy way for a mostly computer illiterate guy like me to take over mom’s computer and save me from a fatal case of banging my head against the wall?
I use TeamViewer for my mother’s computer. I’m very happy with it. I installed it before I gave it to her, but the link Shagnasty gave says there’s a web-based version as well. I use Linux, and she has Windows 7, and it works cross-platform without any trouble, in case that matters.
To make it easier, you can send her a link that will automatically install the program, and then connect it for her, so that she doesn’t have to do a thing.
I’ve been the ‘go-to’ guy to fix all my friendss & family’s computers forever and I too highly recommend Logmein.
When you install it it will do its best to try and get you to install the ‘free trial’ rather than the actual free version (the free trial switches to paid after a few weeks), but just make sure you always choose the free one, it doesn’t ever expire. In fact, sometimes the free version will still start out calling itself the ‘free trial’ version but unless you give them credit card info it can’t ever switch to paid. The only things the free version doesn’t include is sound (not really necessary) and direct file transfer (I just remotely open the other person’s email and transfer files that way if needed).
I asked a similar question not long ago since I had to support a good friend far away who was showing serious Alzheimer’s symptoms. After trying several Dopers’ suggestions, I found Teamviewer to be the easiest and most foolproof, especially in cases like this, where you can’t physically install something on her computer first.
If you can walk her thru the first installation, then put a Teamviewer icon on her desktop, you will be able to connect every time as long as she gives you the (computer-generated) password. If there was some way to do this without having to generate a new one every session, that would be even better.
If you are using Macs, the included iChat/Messages app has very easy screen sharing abilities built in. Plus, it can audio chat while sharing the screen.
I’ve found Teamviewer is better than Logmein. Logmein sometimes had problems connection; Teamviewer always works. It’s also far easier to use – they just click on the icon, tell you two numbers over the phone, and you’re in.
Another Vote For Team viewer here although my issues with the other programs is more about license structure that Team viewer better meets my needs for business.
There is. I can just connect to my Mom’s computer without her having to give me a password. I set it up like this when I installed it, so I don’t know where the setting is. I suppose it’s possible you can’t change that setting remotely.
A little off-topic, but the Park District here often has “computers for dummies” classes for anyone in the community to sign up for. It’s basic as in, this is a mouse and here is how to point and click on stuff and what that stuff does, plus an introduction to the internet. Maybe the community where your mom lives has something like that she can sign up for? It may help even after you can access her computer and help that way - maybe a few less distress calls for you.
LogMeIn will do this too. Though you have to install the client software on your mom’s computer to begin with (you might be able to talk her through this), once done you can set it to always be enabled when Windows starts. You create a password for it, but ***you ***enter that on your side to connect. As long as the computer is turned on and Windows is up & running (with the LogMeIn client installed) there doesn’t even have to be anyone at the remote PC for you to control it. Obviously you should tell the person this if you think they may be uncomfortable with the idea…
My only suggestion regarding this is to keep your expectations low regarding your mother’s use of the internet. Things that seem simple and self evident to you will reduce her to tears. If my experience with my 80 something mother is any guide, general principles will not be of any use. She will need step by step recipes for specific tasks. Counsel her (repeatedly) not to click on links in emails from unfamiliar sources. Do not encourage her to “explore” the internet.
Back when I did a stint as network admin, we used VNC to fix most chair/keyboard interface problems remotely. Pretty cool (and works just as well on UNIX systems, though of course you probably won’t need that feature) although it can be a bit of a bandwidth hog. We had some slowdowns when the server ran at very high resolutions, even over a 10 Mbps local network.
