I use TeamViewer. I've used it for years to provide remote support to family and friends. There is a free version for personal use. The paid versions have a bunch of other options available but most of them you wouldn't ever use for typical personal use.
It works on all popular operating systems: Windows, Mac, Linux, Raspberry Pi, Android, iOS. I've used it on Macs and Windows systems back and forth.
https://www.teamviewer.com/en-us/Here's a video that goes though it a little bit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xim6oP4f8z0It has to be installed on both machines - the one you are on and the one the person that needs help is on. Download and install the version for the machine you are going to be using. Your Mom will also have to download and install it on her end. You can just e-mail her the link to the download page.
When you install it and open it the first time, it will assign the machine you are on an ID number. This number will show under "Allow Remote Control." This number stay the same every time you run it (this computer I'm using right now is ID # 1 413 897 893). It will also assign the machine a password for the session. This can also be found under "Allow Remote Control."
This password will change each time you close down the app and open it up again for another session.- When your Mom needs help, tell her to boot up TeamViewer on her end. Have her put a shortcut to TeamViewer on her computer's desktop so it's easy to find.
- You boot up TeamViewer on your end.
- I usually talk with them via speaker phone while getting set up and/or during the help session.
- On your end under "Control Remote Computer" have her tell you her machine ID and enter it in the box on your end then hit "Connect".
- It will then have a pop up window on your end asking for the password. This is the password to the machine you are trying to connect to. Your Mom will need to feed you that password (it's case sensitive so for example capital G vs lower case g). AGAIN this password will change each time you start a new session.
- Once you are connected, a window will pop up and you can see her screen as if you were sitting in the chair in front of her computer. You can create files and folders, move files and folders, send something from her computer to her printer. It's as if you are sitting in the chair in front of her computer at her house. I think there's an option where you can send files and stuff from your computer directly to hers and hers to yours but I haven't needed to do that.
- During the session, you will both be able to navigate around on her computer so I usually just say let me be in the drivers seat and don't be typing anything or use the mouse while we work though whatever issue. (Nothing is more frustrating than having two people trying to navigate around the same computer at the same time).
- If for some reason you need to type in a password to get into an account or something, then I do hands off and let the other end type in the password, account number or name a file or whatever. She can relay the info to you over the phone and you can type it in but I usually don't want that info. Account numbers, passwords, personal information, etc.. should only be shared on a need to know basis.
- If the session is going to take a bit long say downloading a large file, installing some software, running some diagnostics I usually just tell them to do what they want to do, clean the kitchen, take out the trash, take a $hit, watch TV... once connected they don't physically have to be in front of the computer.
- If installing new software, the computer might have to reboot. If that's the case, tell it to reboot and let your Mom know that once her computer has rebooted, you'll have to reconnect with a new session and a new password.
- At anytime, either user on either end can end the session or disconnect by just X-ing out (close) the TeamViewer application.
- I make this vividly clear to anyone that I'm helping that doesn't know me that well (friend of a friend). "At anytime if you are uncomfortable with what I'm doing all you have to do is X out of the application and that will close the connection. I can only get on your computer with your authorization by you providing me the password for the TeamViewer session. This password is only good for the current session. There is no need to write it down because on the next session, you will have a different password."
Once the session is closed, another pop-up window will show and say something like "want to do a survey" or "Want to rate your experience" or something like that. Just click no or continue or something for the popup to go away.
Hope this helps.
Edited by user
2 years ago |
Reason: Not specified
