My elderly parents have a PC. Only used for web browsing and email and
then in a rote fashion without any real understanding of what they are
doing.

When I was visiting last weekend I installed all the latest updates so
it should be pretty much up to date.

They are now having problems with the connected router and I need to log
in to see what the problem is.

Normally to do this I would get them to use the built in Quick Connect
Ctrl-Windows-Q and give me a code and I am in.

However that now brings up a window with a message "For a more secure
experience, you’ll need to get the latest version of Quick Assist."
which it seems is only available from the App Store. They do not have an
app store account and it would be too difficult to talk them through
creating one especially since when they try they just get a message to
say they "need a new app to access the store".

Talking them through downloading, installing and configuring something
like Teamviewer is going to be too complicated especially since the
problem with the router is lack of WiFi so QuickTime on the iPad isn't
working for me to see what they are trying to describe.

Is there any way of accessing the old Quick Assist? I am not worried
about security. Then I can take control and update the PC to the new
version. Or have Microsoft totally buggered me up?

In article <td55uh$2ffft$1@dont-email.me>, Andrew wrote...
>
> My elderly parents have a PC. Only used for web browsing and email and
> then in a rote fashion without any real understanding of what they are
> doing.
>
> When I was visiting last weekend I installed all the latest updates so
> it should be pretty much up to date.
>
> They are now having problems with the connected router and I need to log
> in to see what the problem is.
>
> Normally to do this I would get them to use the built in Quick Connect
> Ctrl-Windows-Q and give me a code and I am in.
>
> However that now brings up a window with a message "For a more secure
> experience, you’ll need to get the latest version of Quick Assist."
> which it seems is only available from the App Store. They do not have an
> app store account and it would be too difficult to talk them through
> creating one especially since when they try they just get a message to
> say they "need a new app to access the store".
>
> Talking them through downloading, installing and configuring something
> like Teamviewer is going to be too complicated especially since the
> problem with the router is lack of WiFi so QuickTime on the iPad isn't
> working for me to see what they are trying to describe.
>
> Is there any way of accessing the old Quick Assist? I am not worried
> about security. Then I can take control and update the PC to the new
> version. Or have Microsoft totally buggered me up?

I just tried QA, and for the first time (haven't used it for a few months) I
got the same. But there's a button: "Open Microsoft Store" and that seamlessly
delivered the new version. The process is described here:
https://bit.ly/3JT98SO

Hopefully, knowing this at your end, you'll be able to guide them through those
few additional steps. If they can't access the MS Store, then you'll probably
need to ensure they will be using a Microsoft Account in future. If you have
their login details you _may_ be able to convert the account from your end,
possibly?

Good luck! It can be hard to grasp the huge difference in perception of what's
going on in people born just a few years earlier than I was!

--

Phil, London

In article <MPG.3d60335b850aaf48989a0e@news.eternal-september.org>, Philip
Herlihy wrote...
>
> In article <td55uh$2ffft$1@dont-email.me>, Andrew wrote...
> >
> > My elderly parents have a PC. Only used for web browsing and email and
> > then in a rote fashion without any real understanding of what they are
> > doing.
> >
> > When I was visiting last weekend I installed all the latest updates so
> > it should be pretty much up to date.
> >
> > They are now having problems with the connected router and I need to log
> > in to see what the problem is.
> >
> > Normally to do this I would get them to use the built in Quick Connect
> > Ctrl-Windows-Q and give me a code and I am in.
> >
> > However that now brings up a window with a message "For a more secure
> > experience, you’ll need to get the latest version of Quick Assist."
> > which it seems is only available from the App Store. They do not have an
> > app store account and it would be too difficult to talk them through
> > creating one especially since when they try they just get a message to
> > say they "need a new app to access the store".
> >
> > Talking them through downloading, installing and configuring something
> > like Teamviewer is going to be too complicated especially since the
> > problem with the router is lack of WiFi so QuickTime on the iPad isn't
> > working for me to see what they are trying to describe.
> >
> > Is there any way of accessing the old Quick Assist? I am not worried
> > about security. Then I can take control and update the PC to the new
> > version. Or have Microsoft totally buggered me up?
>
> I just tried QA, and for the first time (haven't used it for a few months) I
> got the same. But there's a button: "Open Microsoft Store" and that seamlessly
> delivered the new version. The process is described here:
> https://bit.ly/3JT98SO
>
> Hopefully, knowing this at your end, you'll be able to guide them through those
> few additional steps. If they can't access the MS Store, then you'll probably
> need to ensure they will be using a Microsoft Account in future. If you have
> their login details you _may_ be able to convert the account from your end,
> possibly?
>
> Good luck! It can be hard to grasp the huge difference in perception of what's
> going on in people born just a few years earlier than I was!

Exploring a little further now I have the new version: I find that
Ctrl+WinKey+Q still brings up the old version, plus upgrade dialogue, but
tapping WinKey then starting to type QUICK brings up the new one in the menu,
which opens when you hit Enter (or click it). Note that if anyone's using
Quickbooks on the PC your mileage may vary!

--

Phil, London

Andrew wrote:

> My elderly parents have a PC. Only used for web browsing and email and then in a
> rote fashion without any real understanding of what they are doing.
>
> When I was visiting last weekend I installed all the latest updates so it should
> be pretty much up to date.
>
> They are now having problems with the connected router and I need to log in to
> see what the problem is.
>
> Normally to do this I would get them to use the built in Quick Connect
> Ctrl-Windows-Q and give me a code and I am in.

other way round, you login to redmond and give them a code, but no matter ...

> However that now brings up a window with a message "For a more secure
> experience, you’ll need to get the latest version of Quick Assist."

yes there is a newer version, windows seems pretty bad at recognising whether it
is already installed, and keeps asking to re-install it

> which it
> seems is only available from the App Store. They do not have an app store
> account and it would be too difficult to talk them through creating one
> especially since when they try they just get a message to say they "need a new
> app to access the store".

sometimes the store does a good job of looking like you have to have an account
to install it, but you don't, you can install it without an account ... of
course talking your parents through doing that remotely isn't easy, you could so
with a tool to let you do it remotely for them :-P

> Talking them through downloading, installing and configuring something like
> Teamviewer is going to be too complicated especially since the problem with the
> router is lack of WiFi so QuickTime on the iPad isn't working for me to see what
> they are trying to describe.
>
> Is there any way of accessing the old Quick Assist? I am not worried about
> security. Then I can take control and update the PC to the new version.  Or have
> Microsoft totally buggered me up?

On Friday, 12 August 2022 at 11:18:14 UTC+1, Andy Burns wrote:
> Andrew wrote:
>
> > My elderly parents have a PC. Only used for web browsing and email and then in a
> > rote fashion without any real understanding of what they are doing.
> >
> > When I was visiting last weekend I installed all the latest updates so it should
> > be pretty much up to date.
> >
> > They are now having problems with the connected router and I need to log in to
> > see what the problem is.
> >
> > Normally to do this I would get them to use the built in Quick Connect
> > Ctrl-Windows-Q and give me a code and I am in.
> other way round, you login to redmond and give them a code, but no matter ...
> > However that now brings up a window with a message "For a more secure
> > experience, you’ll need to get the latest version of Quick Assist."
> yes there is a newer version, windows seems pretty bad at recognising whether it
> is already installed, and keeps asking to re-install it
> > which it
> > seems is only available from the App Store. They do not have an app store
> > account and it would be too difficult to talk them through creating one
> > especially since when they try they just get a message to say they "need a new
> > app to access the store".
> sometimes the store does a good job of looking like you have to have an account
> to install it, but you don't, you can install it without an account ... of
> course talking your parents through doing that remotely isn't easy, you could so
> with a tool to let you do it remotely for them :-P
> > Talking them through downloading, installing and configuring something like
> > Teamviewer is going to be too complicated especially since the problem with the
> > router is lack of WiFi so QuickTime on the iPad isn't working for me to see what
> > they are trying to describe.
> >
> > Is there any way of accessing the old Quick Assist? I am not worried about
> > security. Then I can take control and update the PC to the new version. Or have
> > Microsoft totally buggered me up?
Chrome Remote Dektop ? https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/1649523?hl=en-sl

Max Collisions wrote:

> Chrome Remote Dektop ? https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/1649523?hl=en-sl

I have used than when in a Pickle and needed to remote onto an old win8 machine
to get it onto a VPN.

On 12/08/2022 16:10, Andy Burns wrote:
> Max Collisions wrote:
>
>> Chrome Remote Dektop ?
>> https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/1649523?hl=en-sl
>
>
> I have used than when in a Pickle and needed to remote onto an old win8
> machine to get it onto a VPN.
>
But that still requires the involvement of someone at the other end to
install the necessary functionality. Probably just as easy to download
and run a stand-alone instance of Teamviewer.

In any case it has all become a bit academic. My requirement was to
access the PC in order to log into the router control panel and try to
get an idea of why there was no WiFi. It turns out that the router has a
WiFi on/off button on the front panel and this had been turned off.

Next time I am visiting I will open up a port so that I can use remote
desktop from home and avoid any requirements for my parents to do anything.

Thanks for all the advice though - appreciated.

In article <td5roc$2hhi1$1@dont-email.me>, Andrew wrote...
>
....
>
> Next time I am visiting I will open up a port so that I can use remote
> desktop from home and avoid any requirements for my parents to do anything.
>

That only works if the target system is running Windows Pro.

Instead, you could install UVNC (server) and open a port to that. Decent
routers will allow you to change the external port to an arbitrary one, as
having 5900 open is a bit of an invitation to hack any password you put on!

It's worth exploring UVNC's other features. You can run a 'listening client'
on your machine, with port 5500 open on your machine and none on theirs (only
connects if you've started the client, so not so risky as the other way round).
Train your Oldies to right-click the VNC server icon, pick "connect to" (or is
it "add client"?) and if you have a dynamic (or fixed) IP, then they can use
that - else your current IP. (Tell 'em it's like a password!). Years since
I've tried this, but you can script it using command-line parameters for the
client IP (or DNS name, presumably) and you could put a shortcut to such a
script on their desktop (favoured place for Oldies, it seems to me).
https://uvnc.com/docs/uvnc-server/51-ultravnc-server-commandline-
parameters.html

They do have a "single-click" tool, as well as a (brandable) "PC Helpware".
Worth a look.
https://uvnc.com/products/uvnc-sc/68-single-click.html
https://uvnc.com/products/pchelpware.html

But I do prefer Quick Assist these days! If they can recognise the Windows
key, and tap it, then start typing (carefully!) quick.. they they are in!
--

Phil, London

On 12/08/2022 10:19, Andrew wrote:
> My elderly parents have a PC. Only used for web browsing and email and
> then in a rote fashion without any real understanding of what they are
> doing.

Rote fashion winds me up. So many of them do it!

1 times 12 is 12
2 times 12 is 24

Written instructions

Move the mouse to the third button along from the left
Press the right mouse button
scroll down, click the third entry at the bottom ....

IF driving at more than 30 miles an hour, MOVE the gear stick to the
position number marked 3. It's two inches to the right and five up.

--
Adrian C

On 15/08/2022 13:54, Adrian Caspersz wrote:
> On 12/08/2022 10:19, Andrew wrote:
>> My elderly parents have a PC. Only used for web browsing and email and
>> then in a rote fashion without any real understanding of what they are
>> doing.
>
> Rote fashion winds me up. So many of them do it!
>
> 1 times 12 is 12
> 2 times 12 is 24
>
> Written instructions
>
> Move the mouse to the third button along from the left
> Press the right mouse button
> scroll down, click the third entry at the bottom ....
>
Which works fine until there is a minor update and it is now the forth
entry down and the third has become 'delete all'

In article <tddh6c$3li0v$1@dont-email.me>, Andrew wrote...
>
> On 15/08/2022 13:54, Adrian Caspersz wrote:
> > On 12/08/2022 10:19, Andrew wrote:
> >> My elderly parents have a PC. Only used for web browsing and email and
> >> then in a rote fashion without any real understanding of what they are
> >> doing.
> >
> > Rote fashion winds me up. So many of them do it!
> >
> > 1 times 12 is 12
> > 2 times 12 is 24
> >
> > Written instructions
> >
> > Move the mouse to the third button along from the left
> > Press the right mouse button
> > scroll down, click the third entry at the bottom ....
> >
> Which works fine until there is a minor update and it is now the forth
> entry down and the third has become 'delete all'

Today's kids seem to acquire by osmosis an intuitive understanding of 'state'
which the generation just above me just can't get their heads around! I found
myself coaching (for the umpteenth time) an 83-year-old this morning on how to
read (let alone compose and send) a text message. I found myself telling her
that each button-press in the sequence was like moving to another "room" within
her mobile. Whether any part of that will stick remains to be seen. I am not
optimistic.

--

Phil, London