One of the greatest inventions since sliced bread is undoubtedly remote computer support.
Have you ever been struggling with a computer problem that your computer-savvy friend or relative can fix in the blink of an eye, but your friend just isn’t there?
Ever spent countless hours trying to figure out how to share your printer in your home network? Configure your e-mail software? Get your anti-virus program working?
Your computer-expert friend mailed you the instructions, which you are following to a tee, but you just can’t get the thing working.
If that sounds familiar, then you will probably want to hear about remote computer support solutions.
How much easier would it be if the tech person could just connect to your computer screen from a distance and solve your problem with a few clicks of the mouse?
There is an ever growing number of solutions that offer convenient, secure remote computer support possibilities. Such as:
LogMeIn
Logmein is one of the many choices you have to set you up with remote support. And the good news is: they even offer a free version.
On of the great things about LogMeIn (besides that it’s free of course) is that it usually deals pretty well with firewalls. Windows’ built-in remote computer access functionality requires that your firewall is properly configured to allow the incoming connections, whereas LogMeIn operates on http port 80, which is usually open on most firewalls. (That’s where the internet data goes through when you surf the net)
Go to www.logmein.com, click on the link that says “create an account” and look in their list of products for the category “Personal Remote Access”. Select “LogMeIn Free” and sign up. You will have to enter your email address and a password. This is your logmein account password. You will have to pick a computer access password later on as well, but we’ll get to that in a second.
No need to worry about your privacy when allowing someone to remotely connect to your computer. Access to your computer is protected by two passwords. You can always change your logmein passwords at any time. The person connecting to your computer will always have to know both your passwords in order to get in.
Just make sure that you pick the free version if you don’t want to spend any money on getting familiar with remote computer support. (You can always do that later)
Then click the link that says “Add Computer” (not here, on the LogMeIn site)
Your computer will then start downloading the LogMeIn software and the setup program will guide you through the installation with a setup wizard. Just follow the on-screen instructions.
The wizard will want to know if you want to perform a “Typcial” or a “Custom” installation; please select “Custom”. That will allow you to choose a computer access password, which prevents problems in case your regular Windows account has a blank password.
During the rest of the setup wizard it’s ok to accept the presented defaults.
When the installation is completed, your computer is set up for remote computer support. You can now use any other computer with an internet connection, go to www.logmein.com, log on with your logmein account email address and password, and you will see your “remote computer support enabled” computer listed under your LogMeIn “My Computers” section.
You can then remotely control that computer simply by clicking on its link.
And so can your techie friend, provided that you tell him or her your two passwords of course.
Just keep in mind that the person who is providing remote computer support will be able to see everything that’s going on on your screen. And will even be able to control your computer.
Your privacy is guarded though, by two passwords. Additionally, whenever someone connects to your computer through LogMeIn, you will see a pop-up appearing on screen, informing you that someone is remotely connected. Just so no one can spy on you without you knowing.
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