What do you do when you have a computer problem? - try TightVNC

Ever encountered a computer problem and tore your hair off in frustration? Having your computer messing up your brain alone is not scary enough. What's more frightening is when you are at its mercy and no one seems to be able to help. Say, you tried to explain the problem to someone more knowledgeable but that someone just cannot understand you. You are sure you are speaking English and that it is not a "language" issue... or is it? The uncomfortable thing in this situation is that you need your computer to work again AND you need help, but the help that arrives has trouble understanding you. So what do you do then? Give up? Scream? Give up. :P What I would suggest is for you to get an "expert" to tunnel into your computer. This way, he can see what problem you are facing and resolve it for you right away. A typical way to do this is to allow him to control your computer via VNC (Virtual Network Computing). This means that he can move your mouse and play with your keyboard and basically do everything you can do on your computer. Sounds scary? You bet. The first time someone comes into your computer will be an... unique experience. The one safeguard you have on your side though is that you can see whatever he is doing. Yes I know it might be eerie - as if there is a ghost in your machine - but at least, he can't do anything without you knowing. And the last resort you have control of is the power plug. Just restart or switch off your computer and the connection will be broken. Or, just power off your modem. ^^ Scary, yet worth the try? How then can you allow this remote controlling for troubleshooting? Instead of relying on Windows' inbuilt remote help service (or whatever they called it) which fails pretty much all the time, use a VNC software instead. There are many pretty good ones (FREE) available on the internet so you can just go search. Personally, I have been using TightVNC which you can download from http://www.tightvnc.com . This software is not even 2MB so it is incredibly "light". It is also very easy to set up and use. Have fun experimenting. =)