For the past several months I have used a simple and great way to remote access a friend or colleague’s remote computer totally free!  As long as you are utilizing the software for personnel use, TeamViewer offers a great tool for accessing remote workstations via your internet connection.  And it’s free!  All you need to create your remote desktop connection are 2 people (1 at each computer), an internet connection for each computer, and a way of contacting the person at the remote computer.  With using this tool’s many functions I have found the following abilities to be the most beneficial:

–  Remote Access a remoter partner’s computer

–   Automatically enabled chat tool, so you can chat with the remote person

–   Transfer files from one computer to another

–  Establish a VPN connection with your remote partner’s computer

–  Toggle viewing capabilities between your computer and remote partner’s computer

Here’s how you start

From your web browser, navigate to www.teamviewer.com and select the download option from the home page (save the file, do not run it from the site).  Execute the exe file you downloaded.  You can either install TeamViewer or just run it as an exe file which will not install anything on your computer (I love this feature because you do not have to junk up your computer with more software).  Accept the usage agreement and then the main screen will pop up. 

At this point you simply need to get your remote partner to perform the same steps.  Ask them for the ID and Password their software is reading out and then type these credentials into your software and click “Connect to partner”.  Then your session will start! 

Other news about TeamViewer’s services I have read about are that they have an app that you can install on your IPhone to access your home computer and you can even register a username on their website and install an app on your home or office computer to get you remote access without having a partner to assist you with the remote connection!

Remember that all of these services are free only as long as they are for personal use only.  Commercial use requires purchased licenses.