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Setting up Remote Access

Sounds like you have a big problem. This is going to be a bit tricky and I’m not sure if it will work based on her computer not being able to open any windows. Also, you’ll have to double check the licenses of the various products. I do not believe the licenses are transferrable to more than one computer in general. If you have copies of the drivers that she needs, a remote connection would let you transfer the files from your PC to hers. However, her computer needs to be somewhat functional in order to create the remote access connection.

Windows Remote Assistance

If you both have modern Windows computers such as Windows Vista or XP, you can use the built-in Windows Remote Assistance utility to establish a connection and take over her computer. She will need to go into her computer, click on the Start button, click on Help and Support, and then click the Windows Remote Assistance link. Now, she needs to “Invite someone to help. From there, she will be prompted to set up her computer to allow Remote Assistance and she must follow the prompts to “invite” you to help which basically involves sending you an e-mail. You’ll then accept the invitation and be able to connect provided that no firewalls block you out. You will both need to be connected to the Internet.

PCanywhere

Another option is to use software such as PCAnywhere to connect the two computers. Again, this involves a lot of user intervention on your sister’s part. Both of you would need to buy and install the software before you can connect. In addition, she will need to set her computer to accept your connection. PCAnywhere allows you to use standard phone lines for connections.

GoToMyPC

GoToMyPC is a web-based remote control option that might work. Your sister would need to download the GoToMyPC software and provide you with the log on credentials. From there, you can control her PC from your computer by going to the GoToMyPC Web site and entering the appropriate information. Both computers will need to be connected to the Internet.

Once Connected

Provided that you can actually connect to your sister’s PC, you can then begin troubleshooting her driver issues. If you decide that she needs the Driver Detective or RegCure software, you’ll most likely need fresh licenses for each as I do not believe the standard licenses are transferrable. If you have multi-user licenses, then it shouldn’t be a problem. Double-check your licenses beforehand.

TROUBLESHOOTING REMOTE ASSISTANCE

About Remote Assistance

Remote Assistance is a pretty cool utility that is part of the Windows operating systems and can also be used through Windows Messenger and some email clients. Remote Assistance lets users request help from other people and give them permission create a connection to their computer; to view the screen, to chat, and even to access the computer remotely. When using Remote Assistance the user who asks for advice is called the Novice, and the person or computer that is asked for help is the Expert.

How to Accept an Invitation

To accept an invitation to offer Remote Assistance through Messenger both computers have to be connected to the Internet at the same time so you have to make sure that the user who sent you the invitation is online when you are. After you accept the invitation the other user also has to confirm the invitation. Until they do the remote connection cannot be established. So, first of all, ensure that the person whose computer you are trying to access is sitting at their desk when you begin this process.

Enable Remote Assistance

I’m sure you have already done this, but to make sure that you have Remote Assistance enabled on your computer open the Start Menu and then choose the Control Panel. Open the Performance and Maintenance tab and then choose System. Next, hit the Remote tab and then ensure that the box is checked to Allow Remote Assistance Invitations can be sent. Next, click Advanced and set an amount of time for this permission to be in effect. Then click OK. You will want to ensure that the user who sent you the invitation has set an appropriate amount of time for the remote meeting.

Configure the Firewall

There is a good chance that either your firewall or the other user’s is blocking you from accessing Remote Assistance. If you are using a Windows Firewall or any other program, check the settings and make sure that the firewall is not blocked port 3389 because it will prevent users from contacting each other. You might also be blocked by your router, or by the other user’s router. To troubleshoot these issues you and the other user will need to configure your settings and contact the manufacturers or manuals if necessary.

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Overview

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Features

• Certified Experts - A rigorous certification program along with testing, interviews, and background checks ensure that the techs available to service your computer are knowledgeable and trustworthy.
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• Expert Profiles - You can see which experts are online and available as well as view their profile, see how many cases they’ve handled, their approval rating, and their price.
• Wide Selection of Standard Services - SupportSpace.com offers a huge menu of fixed price services such as Spyware Removal, iPhone setup, network setup, online backups, data recovery, computer repairs, internet security, e-mail setup, and more

Benefits

Using SupportSpace.com is an excellent choice for repairing or optimizing your computer. With various services offered and expert help readily available, you can repair your computer without the hassles of taking it into the shop. In addition to having an expert guide you through the steps, you can also grant the expert permission to remotely control your computer and perform the tasks on your behalf.

Instead of spending countless hours researching your computer errors and searching for advice, SupportSpace.com offers solutions! Check their services menu and see if a pre-packaged solution exists or connect with a certified expert and get customized advice.

How it works

Certified experts are available around the clock to assist you with Windows XP, Vista, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office, e-mail, backups, viruses, printers, hardware, security, networking, digital cameras, spyware, and more. Routine technical issues are handled via “express sessions” which typically last about twenty minutes while more complex issues require “premium sessions.” Price quotes are given in advance before the session begins. SupportSpace.com offers a money-back guarantee with no questions asked.

Recommendations

SupportSpace.com is ideal for any computer user who needs technical help. From helping you with routine computer issues such as installing an antivirus application to more complex services such as reviving Windows XP from a major crash, help is just a few clicks away.

 At first, this question sounded like we had two separate questions here. But upon further research, the two questions are indeed related. Support Soft is a company that provides technical support services to companies and individuals alike. For example, computer users can get help from this company for a variety of common technical support issues such as optimizing the computer or removing malware. This service is similar to the services profiled here: www.filetonic.com/support. If you need online tech support, both options are worthy of considering.

Support Soft also provides background support for Internet Service Providers. For example, if you’re experiencing problems with your Internet service, the tools offered by your broadband provider could very well be products from Support Soft. Likewise, many of these installations may not have been initiated by you but by your ISP in an effort to “self heal” issues with their service. The installers for the programs are powered by Support Soft and may not be exactly perfect. For example, installation programs have been known to generate this “not logged on as administrator” error even though the user was in fact correctly logged on. The Sophos Resolve tool comes to mind. This particular tool generates a similar notice which can be disregarded.

If you suspect that an installer program is part of you ISP’s service, check with your ISP for support. For example, if your broadband ISP offers “one click” fixes or other downloads that enhance your Internet connection, they could very well be powered by Supportsoft. These tools are designed to help solve problems but may have a minor bug themselves.

Support Soft is preinstalled on some computers as part of their built-in support software. You can check your computer to see if this is the case by going to the Start button, choosing Run and typing in services. Scroll through the list in search of Supportsoft. If so, you can disable, stop, or set the service to manual mode.

If you can identify the circumstances surrounding the “not logged on as administrator” error, you’ll be better able to troubleshoot the problem. Does the error come up whenever you access your e-mail? If so, your ISP may have a Supportsoft tool that they use as part of their spam or virus prevention services. Does the message appear when trying to download a troubleshooter from your ISP or when using your computer’s built-in support tools? With so many possibilities, we’ll need to isolate the exact program that is trying to install or launch in order to find a workaround or solution.

 While access has replication and synchronization features that you might consider adopting, I’m wondering if a remote solution might not be the easiest option. There are all kinds of remote technologies available that allow you to sit at your desktop anywhere in the world, log on to your colleague’s computer, and take control of their desktop. Not only can you explore their Access database as if you were sitting at their workstation, you can also show your colleagues exactly what they did wrong and how to prevent it from happening again. Instead of fixing the problem on your end, you will be helping your colleagues learn the ins and outs of using your database the way it is meant to be used.

Depending on the various operating systems involved, you may be able to use the remote capabilities of Windows to accomplish this. For example, if both users have Windows Vista or XP, you can use Remote Assistance. This involves a little cooperation on both ends. First, your colleague will need to enable Remote Assistance connections on their computer which is done by going to the Control Panel, clicking System, clicking the Remote tab, and enabling Remote Assistance.

Next, they need to “invite” you to help them. This is done by opening Remote Assistance and issuing an invitation, usually in the form of an e-mail. Once you receive the invitation, you can act upon it and establish a connection. Both you and your colleague will be able to see the desktop while you control it. When connected, give your colleague a phone call so that you can talk as you work.

If Windows Remote Assistance isn’t an option, other remote connection products are available. For example, I used to use Symantec’s PC Anywhere to connect to computers located at branch offices. Both computers need a copy of the PC Anywhere software installed and, again, there’s a bit of coordination involved to establish remote connections. Once connected, you see the remote desktop and can control it as if you were sitting at the workstation. Your colleague can see what you’re doing. A text chat feature is handy, too, though you may prefer talking over the phone.

Other online tools allow for collaboration as well though they may not be suitable for a large, multi-user Access database.

It’s happened to many of us. Mom calls up and says that Dad just got a new computer, and he’s gotten online, but he can’t get his email set up and he needs your help.

Or Cousin Dave just got a brand new iPod and needs help getting music onto it from his massive CD collection. Or you’re at work, and you left the link to the website you really needed for your early meeting on your desktop. Or maybe you’re at home, and suddenly remember that you left the document you created on your desktop at work. Variations on this theme drive thousands of us to frustration, and thousands to use remote access solutions. 

There are quite a few remote access solutions, both built-in to most current operating systems, and as stand-alone applications, or as network-based products. Windows, for instance, includes “Remote Desktop Access” in current systems. You can enable it from the desktop, by right clicking on “My Computer” and selecting the “Remote” tab. Simply place a checkmark in the “Allow users to connect remotely to this computer” box. Note the computer name provided. You can then selectively enable the feature for users by clicking the “Select Remote Users…” button and adding the users you want to have remote access.

To access such a system from a Windows box, you can go to Start->All Programs->Accessories->Communications->Remote Desktop Connection. You’ll get a dialog looking for your login information and the computer name. You can substitute the IP address for the computer name, as you can in most cases.

If you have a Macintosh, you can download the RDP software from Microsoft that will allow you to access the Windows computer remotely.

If you are using a Linux system, you can use rdesktop ( a command line utility ) or Gnome-RDP - a front-end for rdesktop and several other remote tools. The problem with this approach is that it’s complex and insecure to make this solution available for people not on our local network.

If you have a Macintosh computer, you can enable remote access in System Preferences. Click on the “Sharing” icon, and put a checkmark next to “Screen Sharing”. You can click on “Computer Settings”, and put a checkmark in “VNC viewers may control screen with password:” and put in a password. Once you have this set up, there are several ways to access your remote desktop. You can use any VNC client on a Windows, Linux, or Mac system. If you have the most recent version of Mac OSX (Leopard), you can use the Screen Sharing program for remote access - select the computer name in your Finder Sidebar, then click on the button that says “Share Screen”. It will prompt you for your login credentials for the other system, and then you’ll get the remote desktop. On Linux, you can use tightvnc or RealVNC, or vncviewer.

On Windows, you can use TightVNC or any other VNC capable viewer. In addition to the solutions above, .Mac (Dot Mac) and Leopard, when combined, offer a “Back to My Mac” solution that allows you to engage screen sharing securely to any Mac you have authorized on your .Mac account for Back to My Mac.

If you have a Linux system you want to access remotely, you can use X11 on the local network. This is non-trivial to configure, but it offers some interesting possibilities. The software you would run on your remote system is called an “X Server”, while the machine you’re accessing remotely runs “X Clients”. This can be confusing from a terminology perspective.

There are X Servers for Windows and for Mac OS X (it’s built in to OSX, in fact). X11 was designed to make the display experience as location-agnostic as possible, which means you can actually have, say, just a browser window from the remote linux machine show up on your local machine. Again, this is complex to configure securely, and certainly nothing you’d ever want to make available from the Internet. The second solution is VNC. You can use vncserver to start a VNC session on your Linux box, and access it from your other machines with a generic VNC viewer.  VNC Viewers are available for nearly every platform in the world. For remote GUI access on Linux, VNC is a good solution provided you use SSH to encrypt the session by tunneling your VNC Client’s connection through an SSH tunnel. That’s enough to tie up an entire article; it’s sufficient to say that if you don’t know that those terms mean, you don’t want to try it based on what information this article has room to provide.

All the solutions discussed so far are for local access. This means that you can connect to the other machine from the same physical network - like your house, or your job. What if you need to access your home system from work? Well, then we turn to other solutions. If you’ve got the hardware and expertise, and your IT department allows it, you can configure a VPN between your work computer and your home system, and then use the same methods listed above to access your computer. But presuming you don’t have that kind of access, there is a solution - or three. In fact, a Google search for “Remote PC access websites” turned up a list of quite a few, ranging from extremely expensive to free. The first such service most people think of is GoToMyPC.com; you can get a 30 day trial if you want to experiment. 

Most only support Windows on the remote end. An exception to this general rule comes from LogMeIn.com, which supports both Windows and Mac clients. There may be a similar solution that supports all three (Windows, Linux, and Mac OSX), but not easily accessible. Logmein.com provides remote access via web browser, with many very nice features. One example is the way it handles desktop resolution. If you are connecting to a machine with much higher resolution than the system you’re connecting from, the desktop will appear small and shrunken. With logmein.com, you can select the desktop resolution of the remote system from a drop-down menu, bringing the remote desktop to a viewable size. The really important thing about this change is that it’s non-permanent. When you get back to work after setting your work resolution to 1024×768 so it would fit on your laptop’s screen, you’ll discover your setting unchanged. It supports clipboard synchronization and many other conveniences. Plus, you can walk Cousin Dave through installing it on his computer, then (with his approval) take over his desktop and show him how to rip a cd and put it on his ipod. Remote access allows ‘family support techs’ to help their relatives and friends with technical problems rapidly and with a lot less frustration than trying to “talk them through” troubleshooting on the phone. 

As we become more mobile, remote access becomes more useful to more people. When you have a desktop and add a laptop, remote access might just become critical to the way you work. The information provided here will help you sort out your remote access needs and how to approach your customized solution.