I need a drink! Parents are computer illiterate and I am trying to help them

[cooper83]

my wife's mother who would simply dive in and try things which is a fine trait and a good way to learn. My mother seems to believe she can somehow break the computer or alter the entire planet by pressing a key wrong or clicking there when it should be clicked "here".

This!

and

I've really lost all enthusiasm for doing this. Particularly when people just don't retain general knowledge and even worse when they don't want to follow written instructions and can't be bothered to do it themselves!

This!

I continually tell my mom "you're not going to break it" and encourage her click, double-click, right-click to her heart's content. But there's no sense of curiosity, or "I wonder what this does". I don't understand. Maybe it's because I'm curious by nature and prefer to learn things for myself; the only reason I know anything about computers is by trial & error. But I suppose some people like to have things done for them and could care less about learning a new skill. Like reddwarf, I'm getting tired of going over to help them, only to find the instructions I wrote out the last time I was there, sitting right next to the computer

[Danster]

Kinda reminds me when I have to tell my mom that the left mouse button is for an action and the right is for an inquiry. I still have to tell her each time we have to fix something. And so it goes in full circle. Gotta love our parents! Must be pay back for the grief I might have caused while growing up...

[Jake]

OK I am not going crazy then! Thanks for the confirmation guys.

My mother can actually use Skype. It seems motivation (to see the grand kids) is a powerful teacher. So thinking that might be helpful in troubleshooting I got her to start it. I just about went mad as she kept looking at her mouse when clicking ... and missing her target.

I really need to set her up with a one-click support solution. I have used Remote Assistance in the past with success but it was too complicated for them. Next time I am visiting I will be sure to look into the options you guys mentioned.

I wonder if Remote Desktop would work if I enabled it on their PC? I like the email IP trick. I assume logmein is firewall friendly.

[BGY11]

logmein is firewall friendly (thank goodness).

[Biggles]

My 74 year old father in law decided he wanted an iMac last Christmas.He was using a PC with Windows '98.Never used any Apple product before. I went with my wife over Christmas to Saskatoon to help him set it up.We had 5 days.He spent the four days entertaining his two five year old grandkids.On the last day he had a bunch of errands to run,then pick up a friend at the airport.Finally at 8 pm , he decided he wanted to unpack his new iMac.I had 2 hours ! I tried to set up his e-mail,but he had forgotten all his paswords.I tried to set up iTunes,but he didn't want his credit card used.
For the next few weeks he called numerous times.He recently took a night course at a local college for iMac/Apple. He's getting better,but he is still running his old PC as well !

I'm not sure why he just didn't get a newer PC.

He recently won an iPod Touch,but still refuses to use his credit card on-line.
So the Touch sits..collecting dust.

[jshel101]

Just get him to buy an iTunes card, then you can tell him how to redeem it in iTunes.

[hamstercaster]

My mom doesn't have a computer but my in-laws do. I'm lucky though as my wife can usually answer her parents' questions so she gets to deal with them. I'm not a tech but am somewhat knowledgeable, at least to an extent so if my wife can't fix the problem than she asks me the questions while she's still on the phone. If I don't have the answers I usually search the net or call my friend or bro who usually know the answers. So luckily I don't get to deal with this much.

The other problem is that they are using the French version of Win 7 and I'm using the English version. Although I'm French, it's a major PITA to try and figure out what to tell them to click on or if we're over at their place and they ask me to fix something, I'll find myself looking all over the place for something generally very easy to find on the English version...

[DJDiggler]

I continually tell my mom "you're not going to break it" and encourage her click, double-click, right-click to her heart's content. But there's no sense of curiosity, or "I wonder what this does". I don't understand.

My first experience with a computer was a old 386 IBM or some such thing my dad brought home from work... he had no idea if it even worked. aparently all it had was DOS and that blinking cursor drove me nuts, everything I typed did nothing till one day in frustration I typed HELP....


I still remember the sweet sense of "EUREKA!!" when all the commands popped up! Loved computers ever since.

I use teamviewer to connect to my parents, I put an icon on the desktop with "CONNECT TO CODY" in large type. Very easy for them to connect now.

[North_of_Calgary]

Originally Posted by dabell

Installing log me in - free version on parents machines (or friends) is the best thing I have done. Quick easy access when they are on the phone with me.

I'll second that. Then you don't even have to get them to a URL or to open a meeting request. It's just running all the time and you can connect whenever you need to.

[notsure]

^^^ I just did this on the new MBP we got for my dad this weekend.

I spent most of the day with him on Saturday doing whatever it was he wanted done. So far, I haven't heard from him... this is a good sign (as I knock on wood!!).

[Tanta]

Getting back to the original topic Jake, I can send you my famous margarita recipe; my friends say that it has saved many relationships!

[Jake]

Recipes are nice but I also accept all forms of alcohol.