Everything You Can Do With Remote PC Access

Sometimes, you're not near your computer, and you just need something on it. Or you want to let a technician into the inner workings of your machine, so that they can figure out what's wrong with it. People in either of these situations can benefit from having some form of remote PC access.

Remote PC programs allow access to your computer's files and software from a computer or electronic device that is not at the same physical location. One of the remote access features of Windows 7 is the ability to stream music from your personal computer onto any other computer. Other capabilities include remote access to the desktop and files, as well. Microsoft began selling their operating systems with remote access software built in when Windows 2000 and XP came out. This version of remote software is not very highly thought-of, however-- it is generally considered buggy and hard to deal with. Windows 7 has software specifically for sharing media files with other computers, which is more popular. Free and purchasable software is available for download from the internet, as well. There are various reasons why remote access software can be useful. One is the ability to compile important information such as files and data on a single computer, and then allow access from other people in various locations who are all working on the same project. This can allow the possibility of a company or office where the people are not in the same physical location. Another major use of remote access programs is to allow access to the system by technicians trying to solve problems, without taking the machine to them. Or, if you have a tech-savvy friend, you can let him take a look for you, even if he lives halfway around the world. This can save a lot of money in hands-on technical service fees.

Choose a remote access software type that is liable to work well on your machine, whatever it might be. Most remote access software was created to run on one operating system, such as Mac, Linux, or Windows, and even if it was later adapted to run on the others, will usually perform best in its native environment. Make sure you check online and find out if your choice of software is likely to work on your machine.

There are potential security problems with remote access software. Opening the machine to access with remote software can allow bugs and viruses into your system, so it's always a good idea to have a backup of your computer made before installing the software. If you only use the software once or a few times, consider removing it, then wiping and restoring your computer after you are done.

The good parts and the bad parts of remote PC access software make the decision easy for some people, but most will have to think about it for a while. If you truly need the functions of remote access, the risks may be worth taking. If you can do without, then you might find more peace of mind by not using it. If you do install or run any kind of remote access software, make sure to keep your antivirus software updated.