Remote Computer Management

[GH85Carrera]

My mother in law is getting a new computer and I "get" to be tech support.

She lives 90 miles from me so it is not a quick and easy trip to do a tech support tasks. I am building the computer myself and it will be an i5-4460 Quad core 3.2 GHz LGA with 16 Gig of ram running Windows 7 Home Premium.

My question is what remote admin software would you recommend?

I will be using Windows 7 Pro on my end to run her computer. Mostly I see installing updates and fixing email issues. She is a typical great grand mother and she mostly does some email, Quicken & a few tasks with her quilting and such.

The computer is total overkill for her needs (insert a Tim Taylor Arf Arf Arf) but her old computer is 10 years old and at the end of useful life. I suspect much of the support I will do will be with her on the phone and showing her how to use Windows 7 and not Windows XP.

Will the Windows built in Remote Desktop be enough? Will I need a fancier VNC or even more?

[gr8fl4porsche]

I use TeamViewer.

Works good and is free. App is free as well

[aap1966]

Just tell her to do whatever the heavily accented man from "Microsoft Support Services" tells her to do.
😄

[id10t]

Why put XP on it with no updates, etc. and the 0 day exploits in the wild for it?

I'd do either Win 7 if windows is a must, or LinuxMint. And, with LinuxMint, as long as her router will forward the connection, you can just ssh in to install new software, updates, etc.

[flipper35]

Pertino if you just want to use a VPN type connection and RDP. Free for your use. Cheap for enterprise use.

[Neilk]

Originally Posted by id10t

Why put XP on it with no updates, etc. and the 0 day exploits in the wild for it?

I'd do either Win 7 if windows is a must, or LinuxMint. And, with LinuxMint, as long as her router will forward the connection, you can just ssh in to install new software, updates, etc.

I agree... downgrade to the memory to 8Gb which is plenty and get a Windows 7 license. That said, I would probably just have a regular Dell or HP shipped to me and then configure it for her use.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by id10t

Why put XP on it with no updates, etc. and the 0 day exploits in the wild for it?

I'd do either Win 7 if windows is a must, or LinuxMint. And, with LinuxMint, as long as her router will forward the connection, you can just ssh in to install new software, updates, etc.

The old computer is running XP but that is going away.

The new one will be using Win 7 Home Premium.

She would have a meltdown if I attempted to change her to a Mac or Linux. I don't know beans about Linux. She has been using Windows since Windows 95.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Neilk

I agree... downgrade to the memory to 8Gb which is plenty and get a Windows 7 license. That said, I would probably just have a regular Dell or HP shipped to me and then configure it for her use.

We used Dells and HPs in the past at work and the big problem with them is non standard components. I am building a box from parts I ordered from New Egg. I built myself a total silly crazy overkill machine for my house that has been flawless. No crap software slowing down everything. No strange programs I never use clogging up the registry. Evey component is pure generic and no propriety software.

[stomachmonkey]

I would not advise at this point in her life moving her to an OS that she is unfamiliar with.

Linuxmint is great but still requires more knowledge than Windows.

If she'd never used a PC before that would be different as there is no untraining to do.

Both my kids got laptops to play educational games at young ages.

For them a computer is no more difficult to use than the TV remote and they switch seamlessly between OSX, Windows and Linux.

I don't think there is enough difference between XP and 7 that she'll get to confused.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

I would not advise at this point in her life moving her to an OS that she is unfamiliar with.

Linuxmint is great but still requires more knowledge than Windows.

If she'd never used a PC before that would be different as there is no untraining to do.

Both my kids got laptops to play educational games at young ages.

For them a computer is no more difficult to use than the TV remote and they switch seamlessly between OSX, Windows and Linux.

I don't think there is enough difference between XP and 7 that she'll get to confused.

That was my thinking. I will set it up to look like XP as much as possible. I just want to be able to log onto her computer and run the system from my location and with her on the phone to teach her the steps to do whatever has her stuck. She if fairly tech savy for a 80+ great granny. Her biggest challenge is she is simply unwilling to try to think a computer problem through. She will not even do a simple update so I am going to make most of them automatic updates.

I want to build her a computer that will last her another 10 or 15 years. Her mom lived to be mid-90s.

[Scott R]

You won't be able to use more than 4gb of RAM effectively on Windows XP 32 bit.

[flipper35]

With Win 7x64 and her needs she won't need that much RAM, but it is pretty cheap so why not.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Scott R

You won't be able to use more than 4gb of RAM effectively on Windows XP 32 bit.

I can't use it with DOS 3.1 or Win 95 either what does that have to do with anything?

The machine will be running Win 7 Home Premium. Ram is dirt cheap. In 10 years whatever is out there will likely need 8 gig as a minimum.

OK, See now.

Duh. My bad typing. I have fixed the typo in the first page. Sorry folks. Lets start over.

Win 7 Home Premium!

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

....Her biggest challenge is she is simply unwilling to try to think a computer problem through...

That's not age related, more gender.

My wife is the same way,

"can you help me? this is not working"

What's not working?

"this!"

What's this?

"just come here"

OK

"I'm trying to do ......"

That's not the way to do that, try this .....

"I don't want to do it that way, I want to do it this way"

But that won't work, you have to do it like this .......

"why"

Cause that's how it's done

"well I don't like that"

Well do you want it done?

"yes"

Then do it this way ....

"that's stupid"

No stupider than doing it the wrong way 100 times in a row and expecting it to magically work the 101st time.

"**** off"

Yes dear

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

I don't think there is enough difference between XP and 7 that she'll get to confused.

My 81 year old mother would beg to differ. And does. on nearly a daily basis. "How do I do this?".

[red-beard]

THIS for post of the year!

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

That's not age related, more gender.

My wife is the same way,

"can you help me? this is not working"

What's not working?

"this!"

What's this?

"just come here"

OK

"I'm trying to do ......"

That's not the way to do that, try this .....

"I don't want to do it that way, I want to do it this way"

But that won't work, you have to do it like this .......

"why"

Cause that's how it's done

"well I don't like that"

Well do you want it done?

"yes"

Then do it this way ....

"that's stupid"

No stupider than doing it the wrong way 100 times in a row and expecting it to magically work the 101st time.

"**** off"

Yes dear

[Baz]

FWIW my Mom lives about 15 minutes away and instead of me running over to explain or try to resolve issues she has....or spending time on the phone doing the same, she uses a local computer tech guy who works out of his house and is both very knowledgeable and also very practical.

For her - it's like going to a doctor. All doctors are on pedestals because of their title....doctor. If she doesn't hear it come from a doctor (whether a PC or medical one) - it just doesn't carry the cred!

Works for me.

^^ BTW....truly hilarious, Scott!

[Cajundaddy]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

That's not age related, more gender.

My wife is the same way,

"can you help me? this is not working"

What's not working?

"this!"

What's this?

"just come here"

OK

"I'm trying to do ......"

That's not the way to do that, try this .....

"I don't want to do it that way, I want to do it this way"

But that won't work, you have to do it like this .......

"why"

Cause that's how it's done

"well I don't like that"

Well do you want it done?

"yes"

Then do it this way ....

"that's stupid"

No stupider than doing it the wrong way 100 times in a row and expecting it to magically work the 101st time.

"**** off"

Yes dear

Bah! You must have married my wife's sister.

[nynor]

glen, you can set up Win7 to look and behave just like XP. i still use the tried and true Win98 desktop and so on.

[greglepore]

My dad, who's 97, was using a computer until last month, when his vision finally declined to the point that he couldn't effectively read emails etc. For remote tech support I used Team Viewer-for anything not requiring a reboot, its awesome.