Modal messages interfere with remote control?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mark Conrad
  • Start date Start date
M

Mark Conrad

If a modal message comes onscreen in my remote computer,
I lose control of that remote computer.

....because some person would have to "dismiss" the
modal message, but that can't happen because the remote
computer is unattended.

Is there any way for me to regain control of the remote PC?


I do not think that ANY remote control app' can handle modal
windows, but I might be wrong about that.

(Windows Vista on both computers, Windows Timbuktu 8.6.0
as the remote control application)

Mark-
 
It is my gut feeling that if you are using remote desktop and have
administrative privileges on the other machine a copy of that modal message
should appear at your desktop to take action.

Again, it is just a wild guess.
 
Mark Conrad said:
If a modal message comes onscreen in my remote computer,
I lose control of that remote computer.

...because some person would have to "dismiss" the
modal message, but that can't happen because the remote
computer is unattended.

Is there any way for me to regain control of the remote PC?


I do not think that ANY remote control app' can handle modal
windows, but I might be wrong about that.

(Windows Vista on both computers, Windows Timbuktu 8.6.0
as the remote control application)
Click to expand...


What modal message?

You never need to install a keyboard, mouse or monitor on a computer that
you can access through Remote Desktop, so I do not know what you are talking
about. Try using Remote Desktop or VNC if this Windows Timbuktu is causing
your problems like that.

My server runs Windows 2003 Server Standard, and almost never has a
keyboard, mouse or monitor connected to it. This is what is called a
headless server.

ss.
 
Thanks, I am desperate, will check it out.

With Timbuktu, there is no trace of the modal message
on the controlling computer.

There is no way I know of with Timbuktu of regaining
control of the remote computer that has the modal
message on its screen.

(other than having a on-site person manually click on
the buttons in the modal window)

Only way I can keep remote control operating is to be
extremely careful to avoid doing anything that will
cause a modal message to be displayed onscreen.


I have not tried the remote control app' "GoToMyPC"
yet either, to see if it would be stopped dead in its
tracks like Timbuktu.

Perhaps others who have used GoToMyPC can comment on
whether it has the same drawback.

Does "remote desktop" display an actual image of the
remote computers screen? I need that for photos,
video clips, and other graphics.

Mark-
 
A modal message is an SDI (single device interface window) vs. mdi -
multiple device interface window.

Once an sdi (modal window) is instantiated, the execution in this thread
stops waiting for the user input. Since he is here but the remote desktop is
there, he cannot click on that modal form. A modal form is like that UAC
window (box) that asks you if you want to install a program.

It is possible to arrange perhaps at the other end to make sure that no sdi
windows are displayed but one has to think about it. It may take some
programming. He also states, rightfully so, that he can do it in XP with no
problem.

My solution to him is this: He must give himselves at that end full rights
to handle the remote desktop and anything related to it. Thus there will be
ONE straight user.
 
OK, I just checked on Timbuktu. It is a 3-rd party stuff and Vista is not
really responsible for that.

You may be better off by getting a Vista compatible zip file of Timbuktu and
installing it from scratch. I cannot catch if you have already done it or
not, if not, the old XP file is unlikely to work in Vista.
 
AlexB said:
My solution to him is this: He must give himselves at
that end full rights to handle the remote desktop
and anything related to it. Thus there will be
ONE straight user.
Click to expand...

Hmm, perhaps that is where I am going wrong.

I assumed I had full rights on both machines,
because I installed Vista Ultimate on both.

I operate as "administrator" on both.

(I know I should not, but I do)



Are there various types of administrator?


Naw, Microsoft would not arrange things that way.

Mark-
 
Synapse Syndrome said:
What modal message?
Click to expand...


Thanks for helping. The modal message is for an util'
that I run, it is a UAC modal that asks me to verify
that I really want to run the util'.



My server runs Windows 2003 Server Standard, and almost
never has a keyboard, mouse or monitor connected to it.
This is what is called a headless server.
Click to expand...

My remote PC is the same way, no mouse, monitor, keyboard.

Let me qualify that a little.

When a glitch like this happens, I have to temporarily
hook up a mouse, monitor, keyboard, in order to get rid
of the darn modal (UAC) window.



Try using Remote Desktop or VNC if this Windows Timbuktu
is causing your problems like that.
Click to expand...

I will do that and start a follow-up thread with the result.

Trying Remote Desktop sounds a little easier than VNC,
so I will try that first.

Mark-
 
AlexB said:
...the old XP file is unlikely to work in Vista.
Click to expand...

The creators of Timbuktu state that their version 8.6.0
will work with Vista.

It does work on a wired setup (Ethernet 100) - however
even there the darn modal messages (UAC) pop up asking me
if I REALLY want to run this or that.<g>

Oh well...


Mark-
 
AlexB said:
A modal message is an SDI (single device interface window) vs. mdi -
multiple device interface window.

Once an sdi (modal window) is instantiated, the execution in this thread
stops waiting for the user input. Since he is here but the remote desktop
is there, he cannot click on that modal form. A modal form is like that
UAC window (box) that asks you if you want to install a program.

It is possible to arrange perhaps at the other end to make sure that no
sdi windows are displayed but one has to think about it. It may take some
programming. He also states, rightfully so, that he can do it in XP with
no problem.

My solution to him is this: He must give himselves at that end full rights
to handle the remote desktop and anything related to it. Thus there will
be ONE straight user.
Click to expand...


If I really wanted some total bullshyte explanation by a mental case, I
would have asked for one, but thanks anyway..

ss.
 
The creators of Timbuktu state that their version 8.6.0
will work with Vista.

It does work on a wired setup (Ethernet 100) - however
even there the darn modal messages (UAC) pop up asking me
if I REALLY want to run this or that.<g>

Oh well...

Mark-
Click to expand...


Well, the iTivity Admin iAgent will show you the UAC on the local
system and allow you to interact with the UAC dialog remotely.

http://www.itivity.tridia.com/

Brian
 
Well, the iTivity Admin iAgent will show you the UAC on the local
system and allow you to interact with the UAC dialog remotely.

http://www.itivity.tridia.com/

Brian
Click to expand...

Thanks Brian, that site looks interesting.

I will contact them and see if they can solve my
particular problem.

Their website pitch looks expensive, might be out of
my price range.



One other way might work also, but I hate to mention it
because I believe no one has resorted to this extreme
way of handling UAC modal messages.

Namely, a hardware device that can actually press keyboard
keys and control a mouse, all remotely.

I did a half-hearted Google search for such a hardware
gadget but got no hits.




So far, the approach I am taking is to avoid doing
_anything_ that might cause a UAC message to appear
on the desktop of the remote Vista computer.

Unfortunately, that approach really limits what I can do
with the remote Vista computer.

Mark-
 
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