Written by At some point in the progression of dementia simple tasks like reading email or logging into a bank account become insurmountable. This was the case for my father, who for most of his life was very proficient with computers. Then came the day when he couldn’t remember how to do certain things like print an email, or find old emails that he had already read. Whenever he would get into that situation, he would call me.
If you have ever tried to walk someone through using a computer when you aren’t there, you’ll understand how difficult it can be. I’ve found that having a good remote control app in situations like this is a must. In this article, I’ll recommend two applications for control computers running Microsoft Windows: TeamViewer and Remote Desktop.
TeamViewer
TeamViewer is a well-established company that focuses on solutions of enterprise IT solutions. Their flagship product, TeamViewer Remote Access & Support has over 2.5 billion installations. Fortunately, the product is still free for home use. You will need to install it first on the computer you want to control (the target computer), and then install it on computer where you will initiate the remote control (the client computer). In the process, you’ll create a free account where all of your computer/connection info will be stored. You will log into that account from your client application, and then you’ll see a list of computers you can control (initially, just the one computer where you first installed the server portion of
In addition to its key feature of being able to take control of a computer, TeamViewer is packed with other features you may find useful, including:
- Videoconferencing
- Chat
- File transfer to and from the computer being controlled
- Remote Printing
- Leave sticky notes on remote computers
On the target computer, be sure to check the box to allow Unattended Access marked with red in the screen shot below. Note the target computer’s ID and password. You will need those when you connect from the the client. You will use the same screen on the client computer to initiate the connection. Type in the target computers ID in the Partner ID box on the right and click the blue Connect button. You’ll be prompted for a password, and if all goes according to plan, a window will come up allowing you to control the target computer.
