Hacksar

If you have even some computer skills, you probably have been asked to “fix somebody’s computer”. Actually, the better you are with computers, the more people that ask you to fix their computer. This can be fine and usually straightforward if you have actual access to the computer… but it can be next to impossible when you have to do it to a remote computer. Many people think they can simply ask you to fix it over the phone, and you somehow have magical powers to know exactly what’s going on and how to fix it. This becomes especially difficult when they have no idea what they’re talking about.

“THE THING IN THE BACK ON THE THING ISN’T THERE AND I CAN’T CLICK IT TO MAKE THE THING POP UP.”

If they’re asking for help then you most likely have no chance in asking them to install a remote control software, log in to their computer, and then fix their computer. However, there’s a way to be able to both view AND control their computers remotely without them installing anything. All they need is a web browser and the ability to type in the URL you give them. Adobe’s ConnectNow at Acrobat.com is a godsend for all techies. Keep reading for the guide.

(continue reading…)

If you are even a slightly seasoned user of the internet, I’m certain that you have been greeted by the “cannot connect to webpage” or “network connection has timed out” message many, many times. Or, worse yet, you’re a webmaster and visit your site only to find that it seems to be “down”. What many people do first is to just ask a friend “Hey, does this site work for you?” and proceed to give them the link. However, this is grossly inefficient (finding an online friend can be difficult at odd hours, etc) and you will eventually become the “guy who can’t see if the website is working or not and always has to ask”. Nobody, and I mean nobody, wants to be that guy. So, instead there are some other tricks you can do to see if the site is actually down or if it’s just you. Keep reading for further info.

(continue reading…)