JUNE 2022 PCWorld 73The first example is Remote Access in
CRD-speak and requires installing clients on any
computer to be controlled—a simple task.
Simply log in to your Google account using
Chrome (only Chrome is supported—Google
isn’t crazy) on the computer you want to access
remotely, head to fave.co/3NaS4bg, and
follow the prompts to install the viewer or client.
You’ll need to define a client PIN and in
some cases alter your operating system’s
security preferences, but that’s about it. The
computer will be added to your remote
devices list. The obvious limitation here is that
if you’re helping someone remotely, you
don’t necessarily want them logging in to
your account. That’s where screen sharing
(with control), aka Remote Support, comes in.
For screen sharing, all you need to do is
direct the person you’re
helping to fave.co/
3NouXdr, have them
generate a code, then
follow the installation
instructions to add the
extension to the
browser. To reiterate,
CRD requires Chrome.
They then provide
you with the code, and
you can use the
“Connect to another
computer” function to
log on and control their
desktop—assuming, of
course, that you’ve installed the Chrome
extension yourself.
One thing that might affect some users is
Chrome Remote Desktop’s lack of support for
multiple monitors. If you’re doing small-scale
IT, trust me, this can bite you. I used to
occasionally support an entire small office of
users brandishing multiple displays.
Continually asking them to drag the
program to the main screen was simply not
tenable. Thankfully, there are other solutions
that support multiple displays such as
TeamViewer (fave.co/3MzWBUw),
GoToMyPC (fave.co/3LA2XSV), and so on.PERFORMANCE
Controlling a computer over the internet was
a surprisingly agile experience. Of course,There are two parts to gaining one-off remote access to another’s
computer: First they must generate a code, then you must enter the access
code from your end to connect.