There are a number of solutions that let you access a remote PC as though you were sitting at that computer. Some, like LogMeIn and GoToMyPC must be purchased.

Teamviewer.com will let you install free software on two computers and let you control the remote PC from your own computer. Both PC's must be connected to the Internet. If you have two PC's in your home, you can test everything by connecting those two.

If you're looking for a simple, free solution for accessing Windows PC's inside your home or business network, see my article about Microsoft Terminal Services Console on EzineArticles.

TeamViewer is free for personal use. Business users pay a fee.

After clicking through the setup wizard, each user will be given an ID and a Password. I'd recommend clicking along through the wizard while you talk on the phone with the remote user, so you both choose the same settings. Some browsers automatically fill in default settings, some don't. When in doubt, choose the first option on a list, or use common sense.

If you wish, the installation will create an icon on the Desktop that will instantly launch the ID and Password screen, making future access much simpler. The remote user can even choose to let you in automatically in the future without a Password, but some people are nervous about leaving their PC this open.

If you will be the user controlling a remote PC, you'll need to obtain that ID and Password from the remote user. A phone call, an online chat session or an email will let them tell you their numbers.

If the remote user is nervous about a random stranger accessing their PC, remind them that only they will know the ID and Password codes that permit each access.

Plug in the remote PC's ID and Password on the dialog box on your PC and you'll gain immediate access to their computer. Your mouse and keyboard will control their PC, and you'll see what's on their monitor. Their colors on your monitor may be limited and pale; carrying the extra information needed for millions of colors is not really needed. This enables your mouse and keyboard actions to occur almost instantaneously.

Security features may prevent you from a few actions on the remote PC. If the remote PC's firewall software sees that a request is made to open a new port to the Internet, you may be unable to authorize it remotely. For example, if you launch Microsoft Word on the remote PC, then click on 'Help' and ask for extra Help information from Microsoft's website, their firewall will recognize a new attempt by that PC to access the Internet. The firewall's job is to make sure that the user, and not a virus, is making the request.

Their firewall will block the connection until someone clicks the 'OK' button to authorize it. As a remote operator, you might not be able to click 'OK' -- it must be done by the remote user. Everything else will work fine, but the extra Help information will be shut off until the remote user authorizes it. So, you may want to make sure they're available by phone, just in case.

You can launch software on the remote PC, transfer files between the PC's, enable HotKeys, and use other handy features. You could do the setup for a new printer on the remote PC, but the remote user would still have to plug it in, turn it on, put the installation CD in the drive, and let you back in after a reboot.

Your monitor will have two Start Menu's, two Desktops, etc. -- yours and theirs. Just pay attention and you'll keep them straight.

Charlie Gosh has written lots of helpful articles that show anyone how you can save money, improve your life, save time, and other interesting topics.

They have to be easy to do, or people won't do them, so the emphasis is always on doing things a different way that's easier, yet still saves money and time.

Many of the things that frustrate us the most can be fixed easily if we only knew how.

Charlie has a blog at http://www.charliegosh.com/ if you'd like to see more.

View the original article here