Q: I live a long way from my parents, who often need computer help. It gets frustrating to do this over the phone, so is there a way I can tap into their PC from mine and just fix things?

A: Troubleshooting by phone can be a challenge, particularly when the party needing assistance isn't as familiar with desktop navigation as the party providing the help ("What big green button in the corner?"). But, depending on systems are involved, several long-distance tech support options are available.

Windows XP comes with a Remote Assistance feature that lets an "expert" control the computer of a "novice" over a network connection (like the Internet) to adjust system settings, look for lost files or provide other help. The feature takes a little bit of advance setup, but Microsoft has a full overview at support.microsoft.com/kb/300546.

Windows Vista also has its own Windows Remote Assistance service that can let it connect to other computers running Vista or Windows XP. To use it, go to the Start button to All Programs. Click on Maintenance and then on Windows Remote Assistance in the menu. A wizard then offers to walk you through the steps of either helping or being helped. A page on Microsoft's site (bit.ly/12rMiq) explains how Remote Assistance works - and offers some caveats.

Third-party programs are also available. Prices vary, but are usually subscription based. LogMeIn (logmein.com) and GoToAssist Express (gotoassist.com) are two such services. Both can work with Macs and PCs and have free trial periods. GoToAssist also has a $10 day-pass plan that lets you use the service on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Virtual network computing applications are often favored by systems administrators, as is Windows Remote Desktop (bit.ly/QZpsL). VNC programs let you remotely control another computer over the network. RealVNC (www.realvnc.com; a free version is available) and TightVNC (www.tightvnc.com) are two of them.

CONVERTING MOVIES TO THE IPOD TOUCH

Q: I have several old home movies that were digitized and copied onto DVD. How can I convert the disc into a file that can play on my iPod Touch?

A: Plenty of programs can convert video files in various formats into iPod Touch-friendly clips that can be copied onto the player through iTunes. If you're looking for a free option, programs like Videora Converter (www.videora.com) or HandBrake (handbrake.fr) work on either Windows or Mac systems.

Neither program decrypts commercially protected DVD movies on its own, (HandBrake's latest version removed the feature) but either should be fine for old personal video files on DVD. Follow the program's instructions for converting the file. In iTunes, choose Add to Library from the File menu and import it. Once you import the video, add it to your Touch.

TIP OF THE WEEK

Want to have more control over the sounds coming out of your Windows Vista system? Start by clicking the volume icon in the Vista taskbar, which pops up a single volume slider. Ignore the slider, but click on the link for Mixer underneath it. This brings up the Volume Mixer, which has individual volume sliders for each multimedia program running at the moment. By moving the separate sliders, you can adjust the audio levels for your Web browser, system sounds, instant-message program, games, and other sound-producing programs. Click the speaker button under each slider to quickly mute a program.