Remote PC Help

[DigiSLR]

My 10 year old son wants a computer for Christmas. I am divorced and he does not live with me. My ex wife is has a hard time turning on a computer. I have no problem with him have a computer, I trust him.

I am concerned about having to update the Operating System, run virus scans, and make sure he's not going to places he doesn't belong on the internet.

I know there is a way I should be able to remotely access his PC, although I don't know how. I don't want to have to go visit every few weeks and spend time there "fixing" the PC.

What must I do to be able to log in remotely to his PC and make sure I can be a "remote administrator".

If it matters, I am building the PC at my place so I have time to set it up before it gets into his room. I am using Windows XP Home for the OS. He also has a Netgear router set up to the DSL for connecting the PC and his XBOX to the net.

Thanks!

[Davidtxs]

logmein.com
works well

[prncfarquad]

Here is the way I have succesfully made this work.
1. You need a static IP address from your ISP for the computer you want to control ( your son's)
2. Make a user name on the remote computer ( your son's ) conputer with user and password.
3. make sure Remote desktop is installed on your PC if you are running XP (never done this in vista so I don't know the process)
4. make sure Remote desktop installed on your son's computer
(any XP computer should have Remote Desktop installed so step 3-4 may not be needed)

5. make sure windows firewall or any other firewall you have is opened up for Remote Desktop.

Click on start>accessories>remote desktop connection
Enter the static IP address of the remote computer and it should connect you to the computer.

there may be other ways to do this but this is the way I have done it successfully.

If you have any questions PM me and I can help more.

[DigiSLR]

Patrick, that's about what I was looking for. Remote Desktop. The problem I think I am going to have is that I know the ISP they use only has Dynamic IPs. Is there a way I can set up a static IP within the NetGear router? If not, is there a way I can get this to work with a dynamic IP, even if I have to have my son do an IPconfig and provide me with his current Dynamic IP address?

[prncfarquad]

Ok Matt,

You can use remote desktop with a dynamic as long as someone can give you the IP. Even with a Router a static IP is a must so you can use that IP to port forward to the router IP assigned to the computer gotomeeting.com to remotely control my company computers but you have to have someone on the other end to join the meeting nad it cost $50 per month. When you get ready to set it up PM me with your phone # and I will walk you through it.

Patrick