I need your guys' help..

OK, here's the deal. My uncle, who has never used a computer in his life, decided to get one. I steered him towards a Mac, because I know he'll figure out any possible way to screw up whatever computer he gets, and it's an awful lot harder to screw up a Mac in my experience (I've had several).

Now, we set him up with internet and some preliminary lessons on what the mouse/trackpad is, and the difference between the spacebar and a click, but we then had to leave (he lives about 4.5 hours from me).

Now, he's called me up with a problem trying to get to the google search bar in Safari, and for the life of me I can't figure out what's going on. After over 1.5 hours of walking through everything I can think of, he's insisting that there is NO address bar in Safari. Generally, you see the back/forward buttons, then to the right of that is the address bar, and to the right of THAT is the google search bar. He is insistent that there is no address bar or google bar whatsoever.

Now, I remember back when Safari first came out, and I installed it on my old Powermac tower, the default configuration was to have NO ADDRESS bar, because for whatever reason Apple decided it was unnecessary.

I eventually figured out how to turn it back on, and since then have never encountered any mention of running Safari without an address bar. Now, if there is an option for this, do any of you know how to access it? Also, what reasoning is there for a browser to NOT HAVE A ******* ADDRESS BAR?

I'm sorry for seeming impatient, but I've just spent over 2 hours on the phone trying to walk him through things like command-Q and "no, for the 10,000th time don't open spotlight again, it's not google".

Any help for a guy who's ready to fall off a roof? Thanks in advance so much for any help you guys can provide, I'm getting to the end of my rope here..

 

Setup some kind of VNC, use something like gotoassist or what ever there are free ones and ones that cost. You should of set something up while you where there, it would of been easier/free.

 

I looked in to that, but it would require setting up a client on his machine. He still doesn't know the difference between the trackpad and the space bar, so he would be totally unable to do that.

I should have done the VNC setup while I was there, but I didn't think of it. Are there any that you know of that require minimal setup on the target machine?

 

Yes, Go To Assist I be leave you just send them a link and it starts working. But it's not cheap. I don't think Teamveiwer is that hard to set up and it's free. Some one else here might know something better, I don't use these a lot.

Also, to run safari with out a address bar, Right click the address bar and go to customize and drag it off.

*Edit* okay so I re installed teamveiwer to see how easy it is and it is easy, quick install and nothing to it, All he would have to do is tell you the ID and Password that shows up, or you tell him.

 

have him go to the "view" menu in safari and make sure there's now "show toolbar" (which would mean he's hidden the toolbar--the thing with the address area, back/forward buttons, google search area, etc).

 

Another option is to walk him through installing LogMeIn Free ( www.logmein.com). I find it better to use than TeamViewer.

 

@Khris, I usually agree with your posts, but An7m0 offered the only help that should've been offered by this forum. It's a very simple solution and most likely it's the correct one. I immediately figured the toolbar was just on hidden mode. Here's to hoping that was the right answer.

 

Well, from his original post it sounds like his Uncle isn't very computer literate. Although this may only be a simple fix this time, being able to log into the computer remotely would have saved some time and frustration.

Speaking from experience, it's easier to simply do it yourself, than to walk someone through trying to a) explain the problem, and b) perform the tasks you ask of them. I've had my parents computer setup with LogMeIn for quite some time now and it's been a life saver, especially since I can even help them from my iPhone!

Since I don't use Safari, that solution would not have immediately come to mind while troubleshooting. Logging in and seeing the screen however would have immediately given me the hint necessary to fix the problem (if that is the problem after all).

IMO, I don't think any of the suggestions offered were out of line.

 

Why not save yourself some time and book a time with an Apple Genius for your uncle at the nearest Apple store? I've seen all sorts of people at the bar getting the basic tutorials from their Genius's, they'll be much more tolerant and more experienced in handling people that don't have the basic knowledge and teach them from ground up...

 

Oh.... Mail and safari aren't the same thing?

Something I had someone ask after trying to help them an hour, and telling me completely different things than what they were really doing.

 

I second this option.

Education is always the answer.

 

Well first of all thank you all for your help. Turns out my dad has a subscription to GoToMeeting, which has the ability to trade keyboard/mouse control, and is a one-click setup. I'm so relieved, you can't even understand. Now I just need to get him to click the link I email him. We're still working on the difference between click and spacebar, but we'll get there.

I'll be getting him into a vnc meeting tonight and I'll see what's up with this phantom safari address bar. Thanks again!

 

Oh I can totally understand!!

 

I went through this with my parents and inlaws. I first had them run the apple tutorial that came on the mac. This walks them through the basic operation. My dad took to the mac real fast, considering he as in his 70's when he first got one. My mom would hardly touch it. My inlaw did pretty well, since I did the network setup and dsl setup. Luckly I was there when they asked about using att 2wire router. I TOLD THEM NO. get the modem only and I will supply you a router. This was the best advice I had ever given anybody when it come to ATT service. Since the 2wire is NIGHTMARE at it's best, I classify it as scrap below junk status.

I also have all on Firefox and Thunderbird so I only have to support what I use all the time.

So any training you can get them, the easier your job will be.

 

*EDIT: nevermind, I just now realised that you both do not have a Mac so this idea wouldn't work obviously. sorry about that.



just to throw another idea out there...

I use iChat and the "Screen Share" option when I need to remotely connect and control my niece's Mac from my Mac. It is pretty cool and VERY EASY and it is standard OS X stuff. This is assumeing of course you and he are already buddies in iChat.

found a little article describing it. Hope this helps.

http://www.peachpit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1160240&seqNum=5

- Ben

 

Apple + Shift + Backslash.

You're welcome.

 

that reply gave me a chuckle too. I for one am grateful for the reply... I didn't know about that keyboard shortcut. not that I'd use it often but is good to know. It isn't shown in the Safari "View" menu options.

 

yes it is.... says CMD+|

| = Shift \

 

doh!

i was using the wrong side of my brain