I have to often troubleshoot my sister’s PC; problem is that she is in Perth and I’m on the east coast. Whilst visiting here, I want to install some remote access software so that I can see what she is seeing, make changes, etc.

Any suggestions from your own experience?

It has to be freeware and cover both Windows XP (my sisters PC) and Windows 7 (my laptop).

I can live with an XP only version; it just means I’ll have to remote in from my own workstation at home and not the laptop I normally use.

Teamviewer.

Remote Desktop

You’ve used it?

I’m using TeamViewer here at work and it’s pretty good.

But today it’s not working, as Telstra have screwed up something and are useless at fixing anything.

+1 for TeamViewer.

I use it often at work. Our IT support is in India.

diddly-squat said:

Remote Desktop

+1.

Should already be installed on both machines. I do like VNC however as it comes in different flavours and can be used cross-platform.

TeamViewer looks good. I’ll give it a go.

PC anywhere??

Okay, installed on both machines but I can’t establish a connection; being told to check the network connection.

I’m guessing that ZoneAlarm is blocking the outgoing / incoming.

How do I confirm in ZoneAlarm that it is TeamViewer being blocked and not something malicious?

Hmm – I check ZoneAlarm and TeamViewer is ticked for all outing / incoming on both machines.

Anyone provide a little guidance on using TeamViewer for remote access?

I assume that you have the same version on both machines? I’ve had an issue with that.

morrie said:

I assume that you have the same version on both machines? I’ve had an issue with that.

I had to downgrade my version to Teamviewer7 so that I could work with someone supplying me with services.

Obviousman said:

Hmm – I check ZoneAlarm and TeamViewer is ticked for all outing / incoming on both machines.

Anyone provide a little guidance on using TeamViewer for remote access?

Isn’t there a password involved to allow access?

jjjust moi said:

Obviousman said:

Hmm – I check ZoneAlarm and TeamViewer is ticked for all outing / incoming on both machines.

Anyone provide a little guidance on using TeamViewer for remote access?

Isn’t there a password involved to allow access?

Yes an ID and password

Yep, same version on both (just downloaded). On the target computer (XP) I did the “remote” installation. That asked me for a name and password, after which it gave me an ID number.

On my laptop (Win7), I did the basic installation; it hasn’t provided me with a ID.

I have NOT created a TeamViewer account.

Obviousman said:

Yep, same version on both (just downloaded). On the target computer (XP) I did the “remote” installation. That asked me for a name and password, after which it gave me an ID number.

On my laptop (Win7), I did the basic installation; it hasn’t provided me with a ID.

I have NOT created a TeamViewer account.

I think you use <the ID="" created="" on="" the="" remote="" computer=""> <on your="" computer=""> to establish the link.

Michael V said:

Obviousman said:

Yep, same version on both (just downloaded). On the target computer (XP) I did the “remote” installation. That asked me for a name and password, after which it gave me an ID number.

On my laptop (Win7), I did the basic installation; it hasn’t provided me with a ID.

I have NOT created a TeamViewer account.

I think you use <the ID="" created="" on="" the="" remote="" computer=""> <on your="" computer=""> to establish the link.

Shouldn’t need an account.

To connect, the other person needs to have Teamviewer open, the window provides them with an ID and password, these you will need to enter into your teamviewer box which should then log in to their computer. ID first, then it will ask for a password.

Gosh, that formatted poorly, Michael.

Michael V said:

Obviousman said:

Yep, same version on both (just downloaded). On the target computer (XP) I did the “remote” installation. That asked me for a name and password, after which it gave me an ID number.

On my laptop (Win7), I did the basic installation; it hasn’t provided me with a ID.

I have NOT created a TeamViewer account.

I think you use the ID created on the remote computer, on your computer, to establish the link.

Fixed?

Obviousman said:

Hmm – I check ZoneAlarm and TeamViewer is ticked for all outing / incoming on both machines.

Anyone provide a little guidance on using TeamViewer for remote access?

Install on both machines. When you open it you should get an ID and password unique for that session. Your sister needs to supply you that info on her machine. On your machine you choose remote access and enter that user ID and password. Your sister at the other end should get a prompt that you are trying to access her machine remotely, she needs to allow it.

Obviousman said:

Okay, installed on both machines but I can’t establish a connection; being told to check the network connection.

Yeh, as I posted earlier today. TeamViewer isn’t working at the moment for Telstra/Bigpond users. There’s a server down in Germany and it’s screwed up the TeamViewer connections. Can’t use it here either, and TeamViewer’s a major part of our job (tech support).

So for now I’m stuck actually having to read through PDF documents and learn stuff… oh the humanity…

/tic

JTQ said:

Obviousman said:

Okay, installed on both machines but I can’t establish a connection; being told to check the network connection.

Yeh, as I posted earlier today. TeamViewer isn’t working at the moment for Telstra/Bigpond users. There’s a server down in Germany and it’s screwed up the TeamViewer connections. Can’t use it here either, and TeamViewer’s a major part of our job (tech support).

So for now I’m stuck actually having to read through PDF documents and learn stuff… oh the humanity…

/tic

Ah – that explains it. Many thanks. I’m on Boost, sister is Bigpond.

Obviousman said:

JTQ said:

Obviousman said:

Okay, installed on both machines but I can’t establish a connection; being told to check the network connection.

Yeh, as I posted earlier today. TeamViewer isn’t working at the moment for Telstra/Bigpond users. There’s a server down in Germany and it’s screwed up the TeamViewer connections. Can’t use it here either, and TeamViewer’s a major part of our job (tech support).

So for now I’m stuck actually having to read through PDF documents and learn stuff… oh the humanity…

/tic

Ah – that explains it. Many thanks. I’m on Boost, sister is Bigpond.

Is there a website that says when this will be back up? I have to check the system before I leave.

TeamViewer now up and running. Most excellent – very simple to use and I’ll be able to resolve issues instead of banging my head against the wall when she can’t tell me what is actually happening.

Many thanks for the suggestion and help – much appreciated.