There are times when you may need to access the files and folders stored on a computer but don't physically have access to the system, or pick up your emails while you're away from your PC. Maybe you need to read through documents stored on a computer at work over the weekend in preparation for a meeting or you want to show off the photos saved on your PC when you're away from home. And if a friend's PC needs fixing, wouldn't it be easier to help them over the internet, rather than driving round to their house?

There is now plenty of software, not to mention numerous online services and features, built into Windows that open up the possibilities of remotely accessing a computer from any other computer with an internet connection. These have been designed to make life simpler and can usually be set up quickly and at very little cost, so why not take advantage and reap some of the benefits?

The bare necessities
Let's start with a quick rundown of the equipment needed for remotely accessing a PC. If you want to access files and folders on your PC from remote locations, an internet connection is an essential starting point. A slower dial-up connection will be good enough to connect to someone else's computer and receive remote support from Microsoft, for example, but if you want to leave your PC switched on and connected to the internet to access its contents while you're away from home, a broadband connection will speed things up and won't tie up your phone line.

At the most basic end of the remote-access scale is webmail. If you already use a webmail account such as those provided by Yahoo, Lycos or Hotmail, or the webmail services that BT and NTL provide for their customers, you'll know that checking your emails when you're away from home is a doddle. All you need to do is find a computer with an internet connection and log on to your account using your user name and password and you can find out who's been trying to get in touch with you.

You may not know, though, that both Hotmail and Yahoo can also retrieve messages from other non-Hotmail or non-Yahoo email accounts, which saves time checking multiple accounts if you have more than one. To see if your email provider offers a service like this, look for an option to retrieve POP mail when you log in to your email account. For Yahoo users, this option is accessible via the Mail Options link and then the Mail Accounts link. Click on Add to redirect mail from another account and then follow the on-screen instructions.

You'll need to enter the mail server address of the other email account from which you want to retrieve messages (the mail server is the computer of your email provider from which messages are forwarded to you and has an identifiable address a bit like a website address). If in doubt, ask your email provider for the correct details.

Alternatively, email services such as Mail2Web allow you to aggregate email from a number of different accounts in one online inbox, which can be accessed from any computer with an internet connection. The service can also be used to send emails from any one of your email addresses. Mail2Web is free and very useful for managing different email accounts and replying to messages when you're away from the PC you usually use. It is also password-protected for security purposes.

Checking email messages remotely not only unties you from always having to use the same computer, it also safeguards you from transferring spam and virus-infected messages to your PC, as you can check them online first. However, there are numerous free and paid-for services that will check your emails for nasties remotely before they arrive on your PC.

MailWasher is one service that does just this. The basic service is free to use and can filter suspected spam on a single email account. The professional service costs $37 (about £21) and can filter an unlimited number of accounts, including those held with Hotmail and AOL. A free download of the software is available at www.mailwasher.net along with instructions on using the program. Other filtering services to look out for include SpamCop and Spam Arrest.

It's also well worth checking with your email provider to see if it offers a similar service. Hotmail for example, provides junk mail filter options on its webmail accounts.

Anytime, anywhere
There are a number of options available for remotely accessing files and folders on a PC. Services such as GoToMyPC will allow access to any computer on which the GoToMyPC software is installed, providing it's switched on and connected to the internet. A free 30-day or 60-hour access trial is available, although you'll need to enter your credit card details to register. If you don't want to be charged $20 (about £11) per month (the annual subscription option works out cheaper) once the trial period expires, remember to cancel your registration in time.

Leaving your computer switched on and connected to the internet may not always be practical or desirable, especially if you are going to be away from home for a long time. While taking a copy of files on a CD may help, files can also be stored on the internet. Most ISPs supply storage space called web space when you sign up to an internet-access service. You can use this space to store files and access them from any computer that is connected to the internet.

To find out if you already have web space available to you, contact your ISP. If you do find there is web space at your disposal, ask for instructions on accessing it and uploading files. Web space is usually protected with a user name and password for security and you should be able to drag and drop files from your PC into the online storage space and vice versa with ease.

If you only have a small collection of files that may be needed while you're away, try emailing them as attachments to a webmail account. Providing the emails stored in the webmail inbox don't exceed the amount of space allowed, the messages and attachments will remain in the inbox for retrieval as and when required.

Helping hand
According to the old adage, a problem shared is a problem halved, and that applies to computing problems as much as anything else. If you are running a Windows XP-based computer and your friends and family are too, you can help each other out of IT fixes remotely. All you need is an internet connection and a Windows program called Remote Assistance. This allows one person to view and control someone else's computer via the internet.

To use Remote Assistance, you need to get hold of the latest version of MSN Messenger and sign up to .Net Passport, which allows you to access a range of services and websites online with one click of the mouse. Remote Assistance offers guidance on carrying out both of these tasks. To access Remote Assistance, click on the Start menu, choose Programs and select Remote Assistance. A Help-style screen will appear. Select the option labelled 'Ask a friend to help'. Remote Assistance will check if you have the latest version of MSN Messenger and a .Net Passport. If it detects that you haven't, it will give on-screen instructions to help you set this up.

Otherwise, you can log in using your .Net Passport and MSN Messenger will appear on the right side of the screen. You can either choose to invite someone to help you if you already have other users listed in the software or enter a technically-minded friend's email address. Click on 'Invite this person' and a message box will appear so you can type a brief outline of your problem and enter your plea for help. Once the invitee replies, both parties can use this screen and MSN Messenger to set up Remote Assistance and view a single screen together.

Remote Assistance can also be used to get help from Microsoft. On the opening screen, choose Get Help from Microsoft. A series of questions will appear along with suggested solutions. If this doesn't help, you can send your problem to a Microsoft support professional who will communicate with you online via MSN Messenger to help solve your dilemma. They can use Remote Assistance if needed to view your PC and hopefully fix your problem.

Home security
Whatever style of remote access you choose, a good firewall such as ZoneAlarm, Norton or the one supplied with Windows XP must be used to prevent uninvited people accessing your computer while it is connected to the internet. You should also remove any spyware that could pose a risk (see our feature Combating spyware for more information) and be sure to keep your anti-virus software up to date. It's also important only to use Remote Assistance with people you know or trust.

The purpose of remotely accessing a PC isn't just file retrieval or collaborative troubleshooting, however. Home security systems can also be linked up to a PC, which can in turn be connected to the internet to view webcams or security cameras placed in different rooms of a house while you're away from home. Using anything from a handheld to a notebook or desktop PC, you can connect to the internet and check that your home is safe.

The InControl Quadcam, for example, can do this, and costs from £170. You can even remotely control other settings around your home, from heating and lighting to curtains and security. The manufacturer of InControl Plus, Digital Cybermasters, is working on remotely controlling who has access to your home so you can let in a cleaner or workman while you're are at work, for instance.

Break free from your PC
Software, technology and services such as GoToMyPC that allow remote access to a computer are helping to free us from our PCs. With webmail and online email-aggregation services such as Mail2Web, you can manage email accounts from anywhere in the world, while software such as MailWasher help to filter out unwanted messages and viruses. The internet and the introduction of faster 'always-on' connections such as broadband have increased the possibilities.

And there's more to remote PC access than picking up a few files and folders you forgot to take with you when you're away from home. Using Windows XP programs such as Remote Assistance to get help solving a PC problem can be handy when you find yourself in a computing fix and you can even control home security when you're out. The concept of being able to access anything on your PC, any time, from anywhere, is certainly appealing and looks set to become a widespread reality in the future.

Essential software
There are a number of different programs and services providing remote access to a PC. GoToMyPC, which we've covered in this feature, is straightforward to set up and is charged on a monthly or yearly basis.

Similar services include I'm InTouch, which costs $100 (about £61) per year and gives access to a PC via any internet-connected PC, handheld computer and mobile phone. There's a 30-day free trial and you don't have to enter your credit card details (unlike GoToMyPC). Similarly priced services include Access Remote PC.

Meanwhile, free services exist such as that from Virtual Network Computing but its downside is that it's a little more difficult to set up than commercial alternatives like GoToMyPC. FolderShare allows files and folders to be shared between PCs and other devices, while Remote Viewer from Simtel and WhereverUgo also provide ways to access a PC's files when away from your desk.

Further free programs are available at www.shareware.com by searching for 'free remote access'. Windows XP also has a remote access program called Remote Desktop Connection. It can be opened via the Start menu (click on Programs, Accessories, then Communications) and provides access to permitted computers across the internet.