Dell took "control" of my laptop today...

e1405 with a small problem that we couldn't fix (display changed
resolution when coming out of Standby). I called Support and was
asked to download a file, then the CSR took control of my
computer and in three minutes fixed the problem

This ultimate Trojan happened while I watched! Seriously - it
was fast, efficient, and she did a fine job, in 100% Alabama
English, too.

How long has this been going on?

"Ike" <binarydotike@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:f7mvnk$c8v$1@registered.motzarella.org...
> e1405 with a small problem that we couldn't fix (display changed
> resolution when coming out of Standby). I called Support and was asked to
> download a file, then the CSR took control of my computer and in three
> minutes fixed the problem
>
> This ultimate Trojan happened while I watched! Seriously - it was fast,
> efficient, and she did a fine job, in 100% Alabama English, too.
>
> How long has this been going on?

I believe that has been a standard warrantee support option for a while. In
December when Sonic Cineplayer crashed, the Dell rep did the same thing,
downloading the software, taking control of my PC and installing PowerDVD.

"Ike" <binarydotike@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:f7mvnk$c8v$1@registered.motzarella.org...
> e1405 with a small problem that we couldn't fix (display changed
> resolution when coming out of Standby). I called Support and was asked to
> download a file, then the CSR took control of my computer and in three
> minutes fixed the problem
>
> This ultimate Trojan happened while I watched! Seriously - it was fast,
> efficient, and she did a fine job, in 100% Alabama English, too.
>
> How long has this been going on?


A couple of years. It's a pretty common support feature now. I do this as
needed for some of my people locally.

It's a very convenient and useful tool.

-Stew

In article <f7mvnk$c8v$1@registered.motzarella.org>,
binarydotike@gmail.com says...
> e1405 with a small problem that we couldn't fix (display changed
> resolution when coming out of Standby). I called Support and was
> asked to download a file, then the CSR took control of my
> computer and in three minutes fixed the problem
>
> This ultimate Trojan happened while I watched! Seriously - it
> was fast, efficient, and she did a fine job, in 100% Alabama
> English, too.
>
> How long has this been going on?
>

Incidentally, what was the fix performed. I still have endless problems
with resolutions changing when coming out of standby on my D620.

Although Dell uses their own software, EVERY PC with XP has the ability
to allow another person (an "expert")(hopefully) to "take it over" and
do whatever is necessary. It's a very useful utility called "Remote
Assistance", and it's a standard part of XP. It requires that the
person receiving the help first send the "helper" an "invitation"
(usable once only, and with a short duration expiration date), so it's
not a risk in terms of an uninvited takeover.


Ike wrote:
> e1405 with a small problem that we couldn't fix (display changed
> resolution when coming out of Standby). I called Support and was asked
> to download a file, then the CSR took control of my computer and in
> three minutes fixed the problem
>
> This ultimate Trojan happened while I watched! Seriously - it was fast,
> efficient, and she did a fine job, in 100% Alabama English, too.
>
> How long has this been going on?

Trooper wrote:
> In article <f7mvnk$c8v$1@registered.motzarella.org>,
> binarydotike@gmail.com says...
>> e1405 with a small problem that we couldn't fix (display changed
>> resolution when coming out of Standby). I called Support and was
>> asked to download a file, then the CSR took control of my
>> computer and in three minutes fixed the problem
>>
>> This ultimate Trojan happened while I watched! Seriously - it
>> was fast, efficient, and she did a fine job, in 100% Alabama
>> English, too.
>>
>> How long has this been going on?
>>
>
> Incidentally, what was the fix performed. I still have endless problems
> with resolutions changing when coming out of standby on my D620.

Sorry - my phone rang while she was working on the driver
settings and I didn't pay attention. I had been using Intel
7.xx, which came on the unit. Before the "remote fix" I was
instructed to download/install the 6.xx driver, and the Chipset
software, which I did. The problem was present but had changed.
The CSR went into the driver panel and made some tweak, and now
it's fine (probably 5-6 "coming out of standby" since, all ok").

Barry Watzman <WatzmanNOSPAM@neo.rr.com> wrote in
news:469f7133$0$16605$4c368faf@roadrunner.com:

> Although Dell uses their own software, EVERY PC with XP has the
> ability to allow another person (an "expert")(hopefully) to "take it
> over" and do whatever is necessary. It's a very useful utility called
> "Remote Assistance", and it's a standard part of XP. It requires that
> the person receiving the help first send the "helper" an "invitation"
> (usable once only, and with a short duration expiration date), so it's
> not a risk in terms of an uninvited takeover.
>
>
> Ike wrote:
>> e1405 with a small problem that we couldn't fix (display changed
>> resolution when coming out of Standby). I called Support and was
>> asked to download a file, then the CSR took control of my computer
>> and in three minutes fixed the problem
>>
>> This ultimate Trojan happened while I watched! Seriously - it was
>> fast, efficient, and she did a fine job, in 100% Alabama English,
>> too.
>>
>> How long has this been going on?
>

Yes, indeed. I use Remote Assistance to "fix" my dad's machine all the
time. I've set him up with a desktop icon that is the RAInvitation
file. He right clicks on it, then clicks on Send to mail recipient, and
sends it to me. If I see this in my email, I call him, tell him I'm
going to send it back, and he knows to say OK when he gets it.

Even though the RAInvitation has a drop down menu to set for up to 99
days, it won't allow that long of a setting.

When I do try to set for 99 days, and then click ok, I get:

"Remote Assistance properties have been set such that invitations cannot
remain open for more than 30 days. The invitation has been reset to
expire at the maximum limit of 30 days; if you want, you can select a
lesser amount of time."

I really would like to set for 99 days, because it's always difficult to
walk my dad through setting up a new RAInvitation. Is this possible?

Is it XP Pro? If so, why not setup Remote Desktop with a service like
DYNDNS.org and use that. You can take control whenever you want.

Did it with my Mom's computer. Worked fine.

Another alternative, if you want him to be able to watch what you're
doing is RealVNC. I finally switched to that with her and could give
her training sessions. You need a VPN though as RealVNC isn't secure.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Boris [mailto:Boris]
> Posted At: Thursday, July 19, 2007 11:07 PM
> Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
> Conversation: Dell took "control" of my laptop today...
> Subject: Re: Dell took "control" of my laptop today...
>
> Barry Watzman <WatzmanNOSPAM@neo.rr.com> wrote in
> news:469f7133$0$16605$4c368faf@roadrunner.com:
>
> > Although Dell uses their own software, EVERY PC with XP has the
> > ability to allow another person (an "expert")(hopefully) to "take it
> > over" and do whatever is necessary. It's a very useful utility
> called
> > "Remote Assistance", and it's a standard part of XP. It requires
> that
> > the person receiving the help first send the "helper" an
"invitation"
> > (usable once only, and with a short duration expiration date), so
> it's
> > not a risk in terms of an uninvited takeover.
> >
> >
> > Ike wrote:
> >> e1405 with a small problem that we couldn't fix (display changed
> >> resolution when coming out of Standby). I called Support and was
> >> asked to download a file, then the CSR took control of my computer
> >> and in three minutes fixed the problem
> >>
> >> This ultimate Trojan happened while I watched! Seriously - it was
> >> fast, efficient, and she did a fine job, in 100% Alabama English,
> >> too.
> >>
> >> How long has this been going on?
> >
>
> Yes, indeed. I use Remote Assistance to "fix" my dad's machine all
the
> time. I've set him up with a desktop icon that is the RAInvitation
> file. He right clicks on it, then clicks on Send to mail recipient,
> and
> sends it to me. If I see this in my email, I call him, tell him I'm
> going to send it back, and he knows to say OK when he gets it.
>
> Even though the RAInvitation has a drop down menu to set for up to 99
> days, it won't allow that long of a setting.
>
> When I do try to set for 99 days, and then click ok, I get:
>
> "Remote Assistance properties have been set such that invitations
> cannot
> remain open for more than 30 days. The invitation has been reset to
> expire at the maximum limit of 30 days; if you want, you can select a
> lesser amount of time."
>
> I really would like to set for 99 days, because it's always difficult
> to
> walk my dad through setting up a new RAInvitation. Is this possible?