Patent ID: 7346808

Claim:
An automated method using at least one computer program for troubleshooting the potential or actual inability of programs installed upon at least a first and second computer interconnected by linkages to share or manipulate sharable information comprising: using at least one program installed on the first computer to perform the steps of: (a) testing to see if at least one hardware or software element on the first computer essential to sharing or manipulating sharable information is properly installed or configured or both, (b) testing to see if information can actually be sent between the first and second computers, and (c) if possible, initiating or performing testing to see if at least one hardware or software element on the second computer essential to sharing or manipulating sharable information is properly installed or configured or both; and reporting the results of the testing, wherein part (a) further comprises: testing information indicating the operative status of at least one software or hardware element installed on the first computer and essential to communications between programs installed on the first and second computers; and testing at least one communications permission setting of the first computer to ascertain whether the setting permits a program installed on the second computer to access and to manipulate information on the first computer.