Solved Best way to do work on PC in a different city

I need to do some work on a friend's computer in another city. Years ago, we used some version of Remote Desktop, but that doesn't seem to work anymore. Quick Assist looks like a possibility, but I've never used that. It starts by asking for an email address and password, but doesn't specify whether that should be mine or my friend's. My PC has Windows 11 Pro and his currently has Windows 10 Pro. I'll need access to his computer for an hour or more, probably several times. All this will be prior to and immediately following his Windows 11 install. Is there a 3rd party program better than anything in Windows? I'll need something with detailed instructions for connecting unless what it calls for in the process is clear. Thanks for any help.

larc919 said:

I need to do some work on a friend's computer in another city. Years ago, we used some version of Remote Desktop, but that doesn't seem to work anymore. Quick Assist looks like a possibility, but I've never used that. It starts by asking for an email address and password, but doesn't specify whether that should be mine or my friend's. My PC has Windows 11 Pro and his currently has Windows 10 Pro. I'll need access to his computer for an hour or more, probably several times. All this will be prior to and immediately following his Windows 11 install. Is there a 3rd party program better than anything in Windows? I'll need something with detailed instructions for connecting unless what it calls for in the process is clear. Thanks for any help.

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Doesn't desktop sharing / enable remote assistance work any more -- I think you have to enable it in control panel.

Cheers
jimbo

Remote Desktop should still work but I think you need the Network to be set to Private not Public on both PC.
Win 11 defaults to using public now.

KevTech said:

Remote Desktop should still work but I think you need the Network to be set to Private not Public on both PC.
Win 11 defaults to using public now.

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I think you need this really--Both options -- ensure the remote computer also in remote desktop desktop allows inbound connections as shown too. If you use remote desktop you'll need the public Internet address of the remote computer plus the Remote desktop port to be open on the remote comouter.




Cheers
jimbo

Thanks, jimbo45 & KevTech. I've tried setting up Remote Desktop, but haven't yet found a way of doing it that doesn't involve me having an account on my friend's computer. Unfortunately, much of what I'll need to access is tied to his account and 2 accounts can't be logged in at the same time. Also, he is almost totally computer illiterate in spite of having had one for many years, so couldn't jump through many hoops. He used to bring his laptop to me to do things and I would clean it up when I visited him, but both of us are now at an age where driving distances is out of the question. It seems Quick Assist may be the better option as it doesn't appear to need a remote account. That assumes I'm not mistaken and a remote account is needed for Remote Desktop. All the setup instructions I can find lead to that one way or another.

I've been using chrome remote desktop for about a year. Reliable, easy to set up and free. Works well with Edge

Didn't all the tech support scammers ask unsuspecting victims to install TeamViewer? If it worked for them, it probably does the job.

larc919 said:

I need to do some work on a friend's computer in another city. Years ago, we used some version of Remote Desktop, but that doesn't seem to work anymore. Quick Assist looks like a possibility, but I've never used that. It starts by asking for an email address and password, but doesn't specify whether that should be mine or my friend's. My PC has Windows 11 Pro and his currently has Windows 10 Pro. I'll need access to his computer for an hour or more, probably several times. All this will be prior to and immediately following his Windows 11 install. Is there a 3rd party program better than anything in Windows? I'll need something with detailed instructions for connecting unless what it calls for in the process is clear. Thanks for any help.

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I've always used TeamViewer

You can setup Teamviewer to be Easy Access to login to your computer with your saved password

Thanks to all. TeamViewer appears to be the solution. Got it installed on my main PC and set up the host module on my laptop to test. Worked like a charm. Will get the remote laptop I need to work on set up tomorrow.