remote pc access?
 

Whats the best way to access my kids pc's from my pc? They live several hours away with their mother, and my son is having some issues I need to help with. Don't want to spend 200 on pc anywhere, what alternatives are there?

I'm afraid his mother may have installed some net nanny software on his new laptop I gave him and it may be screwing with the McAfee I put on. He says there is a Norton program in the program list and I'm sure I didn't put any norton products on there.

I use LogMeIn. Free and I have never had any issues with it. LogMeIn

Remote Desktop Connection. Have them set up a user on the remote machine accepting remote desktop connections, and then just login from your machine. As long as the net connection is fairly decent, you should be okay.

I have had great success with Crossloop. If you both are on Windows PCs with XP or higher and have some kind MS Windows Messenger installed, then you can have him ask for remote assistance. The only problem is that Remote Assistance can be flaky when going through various routers.

what operating systems are on each computer?

xp on mine, w7 on kids

+1

This is free, and comes free with all versions of Windows at least as far back as XP.

Crossloop is also free. They offer pay services too, but would be free between you and your son. You can download it from here

Crossloop has been great. It will even display dual screens if you are connected to a system with 2. And is secure due to the way you have to enter a code from the other end and both click "Connect". Have been using it for some time now.

I had a similar thread a few months ago, I ended up going with LogMeIn. My wife uses it to access a business computer from home to do accounting work, there's no obvious lag. In simple form it's free, can't go wrong to give it a try.

You could try one of the free VNC clients/servers (like TightVNC). the plus side it also works with LINUX