Today is Thanksgiving 2009 and some folks celebrate at mom’s house. Many people support their parents or siblings computers and today is a day to take the time and update, enhance and in general make YOUR life easier when you have to provide support.
So here are 5 things you can do to provide quick and easy support to your loved ones and hopefully they’ll be extra thankful today for your generosity. 
1. Firefox
If you haven’t already installed Firefox on their computer, do so. In general, it’s a bit quicker, a bit more secure and renders web pages in a more standard way. Plus, most likely your family member’s computer is an older one. Firefox can load quicker than most browsers on older computers. Make sure you provide shortcuts to their top 3 or more favorite sites on the desktop.
2. Virus Update
If their computer already has virus protection, make sure it’s up to date. If they don’t have virus protection and its a Windows computer, download and install the freely available Microsoft Security Essentials. Make sure you set it up to do a daily Quick Scan. You can do the scan when your family member sleeps and then…
3. Automatically Shutdown Their PC
You can pick between any of my articles on How To Shut Down Your Windows XP Computer, or How To Automatically Shut Down Your Windows Vista Computer, or How To Automatically Shut Down Your Windows 7 Computer .
Now, depending on what Anti-Virus software you’re running, that software might include an automatic shut down as well, after a virus scan. So go for a scan when they’re sleeping and then auto-shutdown the computer. A computer that’s turned off is a safer computer.
4. Remote Control Software
Don’t ya’ just love those late night calls or in some cases every night calls? Ease the pain by installing remote control software on your relative’s computer.
I prefer LogMeIn Free. But, I’ve also used Copilot. Copilot is one of the best and quickest ways to connect to someone. However, you only get 2minutes free. If it’s someone you support occasionally, CoPilot also offers a Day Pass for $5.00 that gives you 24 hours of support. The Copilot Day Pass has worked wonderfully for me.
5. Backup, Sync and Share
While working on Mom’s computer, you might need to transfer files or keep a quick backup of necessary tools, documents, etc. For that, I use Dropbox. With 2GB of online storage for free, Dropbox is incredibly fast and a secure way to backup, sync or share files that you might need while supporting computers.
There’s plenty more tips, tricks and techniques I will share in future articles, so make sure you subscribe. Happy Thanksgiving!!
{ 40 comments… read them below or add one }
Awesome tools! Subscribing your feed right away
Btw, have you tried any of GotoAssist or Webex?
You hit the nail on the head with both the virus protection and the remote control software. First, I constantly find that my parents cannot detect the difference between a harmless pop-up and one that’s full of nasty things; virus protection has saved me tons of time. Second, adequately understanding what in the world they’re talking about when trying to diagnosing a problem is near impossible. It just helps to see what’s going on in order to fix the problem right away.
I’m new to your blog and would say its an informative one. These tips are really amazing. I’ll keep in touch to get more of such stuffs.
Thanks for sharing this information.
Very true. a computer should have those things even is your moms or other person. When you skip this issues may aquire fast windows reinstal.
when mom it’s using you have to keep very safe the pc. !
Thank you for these amazing tips. Its true we need to protect ourselves and our computers. I use firefox too because it has great add ons and plugins. I guess I’d have to check on Microsoft Security Essentials for virus protection.
Hey Bill,
thanks for sharing the must have tools. my parents already know their way on the internet. pay bills, look for cooking recipes, play poker, etc.
is there any software or commands on the PC to shut it down at a desired time and only can be switched on also at a desired time and it’s password protected?
i’d like to experiment it on my dad’s PC. he’s a facebook & online poker addict. would love to see him sleep earlier on his working nights. or i’m just gonna have to confiscate his machine. LOL!
I got virus one time and had a hard time browsing. I will surely try this one out. Thanks !
Excellent publish… retain it coming! I only wish there were far more sites like this.Computer
Well, all these are on my PC, except for the Remote Control Software.
Hey, Thanks a lot for sharing this.
Jane @ Omaha Web Design
Thank you for this useful post.I was looking around for some informations like this,however you just typed it.Thanks again
I think Opera browser is better way to protect your mom’s PC
I love the post. I implemented some of your advice in my Mom’s Computer. Thanks for sharing this information.
Josefina – Viva Mexico!
Thanks for sharing nice information. I hope you will carry on some other nice posting too.
Among these getting protected from virus is most difficult and we need very powerful antivirus live ESET
Female recently posted..Unraveling the Lost Mysteries: What’s Left to Uncover?
I think I have to check on the Microsoft Security necessities virus protection.
This is perfect information, my mom is now 67 years old and insists on using the computer. I need all the help I can get in keeping her computer running smoothly!!
@All:
Thanks for stoppin’ by.
I was just talking to my mother-in-law and she couldn’t figure out how to maximize a firefox window. Some how she made a little square firefox window about an inch in diameter. She didn’t know how to maximize or restore the window. I used LogMeIn and it took two seconds to fix. Tried to explain it to her in less than a minute but I don’t think she really wants to remember what to do.
Later!!
i gave up on taking care of my parents computer. they are impossible, they always infect the PC. OS always crashes and i told them next time call a guy…
I think a good addition to the list will be Anti-virus software, anti-spyware software and few fine tune programs that can help improve the PC performance.
James recently posted..Peaking Boot Performance on Windows XP
A good improvement in the performance of computer
Becker recently posted..How to get rid of cellulite -amp fat
I like this information. Mom’s computer is always messed up. LOL. I’m going to look into these tools they might be easy enough to use for her if not for me to keep her computer running with some of the tools at the least. thanks.
Jack Robinson recently posted..SEOPRessor Plugin is Now Live
Great post. However, anyone have tips about how to get mom to actually start using a computer? The rest of the family communicates via facebook, and I know she would like to be in the loop. However, I just can’t convince her to get one.
Nice post, the opera browser and google chrome are the good solution too
This is great information! Thanks! I subscribed and will look for more good info along the way.
very interestingly
What left? To learn your mom how to use these functions
Can you restart my truck?
Restart computer is easy, restart my truck 
Romario recently posted..Trucking and Biking Means
Nice post, the opera browser and google chrome are the good solution too
mitsubishi klima recently posted..Mitsubishi SCM40ZG-S Multi Split Klima
Some spyware add on too plus a sw firewall.
Always show the user how to scan and browse safely, ie non admin accounts and sandboxing.
Even though this is an older post I thought the tips were great. Thanks.
really good tools, I have use firefox and Virus Update, really do the other three tools, thanks for your post
Car DVD recently posted..Response cached until Wed 18 @ 2:05 GMT (Refreshes in 24.00 Hours)
Great! I was just looking for automatic shutdown, it is not for my mom, because she can do everything what normal user should know.
Thanks!
Oprawy Oswietleniowe recently posted..Hauptseite
Very nice post. I am really impressed. Keep it up.
Thank you very much.
First time, i have read your blog, these tips are very informative for me. Keep posting nice things. All the best.
I want to see these tools, they may be very easy to use, if not for her to computer operation in some of the tools. Thanks.
Mike Arnoel recently posted..专家称电子书寿命只有三五年
Thank you very much for sharing these good tools. Keep posting
Cheers!
What’s funny is – when I last checked my Mom’s computer… guess what? Internet Explorer 6 + loads of random toolbars!
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information very useful for me, Thanks for sharing