Remote Desktop Connection Software

[David]

My PC is running Windows XP/Professional with SP2.

I run a small technical support operation solely for members of my
family. Their computers run Win/XP Pro and Win/2K Pro. I have
trouble understanding what is wrong and what they actually see on
their monitors.

I would like to be able to see for myself what shows on their
monitors, be able to change settings, etc. to get things fixed.

My idea is to use Microsoft's Remote Desktop Connection. I need to
make sure my PC (Win/XP Pro) is the "PC in charge" even when the
remote PC is running Win/2K Pro. I got the impression reading
Microsoft's documentation that this would not always be possible
especially if the remote PC is running Win/2K Pro.

I'd appreciate any suggestions.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

My PC is running Windows XP/Professional with SP2.

I run a small technical support operation solely for members of my
family. Their computers run Win/XP Pro and Win/2K Pro. I have
trouble understanding what is wrong and what they actually see on
their monitors.

I would like to be able to see for myself what shows on their
monitors, be able to change settings, etc. to get things fixed.

My idea is to use Microsoft's Remote Desktop Connection. I need to
make sure my PC (Win/XP Pro) is the "PC in charge" even when the
remote PC is running Win/2K Pro. I got the impression reading
Microsoft's documentation that this would not always be possible
especially if the remote PC is running Win/2K Pro.

I'd appreciate any suggestions.

It is not a question of "not always be possible" etc. but rather a
hard rule about the OS: To run a Remote Desktop session, the
host PC must run WinXP Professional or Windows Server.
Nothing else will do.

You can use a product such as WinVNC on PCs that run
any of the other Windows OSs.

 

[Newbie Coder]

You can use VNC as the previous user suggests & I used to use that on a 24,
000 user network, which was quite good. What you need to know is that is
Open Source & that means the source code is readily available for download
on their site. Its in C++ if you're interested & comprises of 15 projects
into one.

With the VNC software you will need to install the VNC server on the
machines you remote to & you will need to know the external URL too, which I
wrote a tool to get in C++ & VB.NET for simplicity.

Once the server is running as a service you will need to set a key, but
unless you purchase a Enterprise license the seperate viewer don't work
because it will say it cannot find the license file on the server. Plus, if
you use the free version then you cannot encrypt the data being trasmitted
over the Internet or network.

Anyway. The URL to this software is:

http://www.realvnc.com/download.html

You can also use PC Anywhere. Version 11.5 or 12 is out now. Buy it from
Ebay from someone who has 100% feedback will save you a vast amount of
money.

Hope this helps,

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Are you replying to me or to the OP?

 

[Newbie Coder]

Pegasus,

I always reply to the OP unless I state the name of the previous poster

 

[Newbie Coder]

Pegasus,

I am using Outlook Express & these follow fine

In my original reply I put about the VNC as the previous user suggests. That
is you in this situation

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Pegasus,

I am using Outlook Express & these follow fine

In my original reply I put about the VNC as the previous user suggests. That
is you in this situation

You started your reply with "You can use VNC as..." and your
whole post was directed at the OP, not at my reply, hence you
should reply to him, not to me.

If you have some issue with my own reply then you should
reply to my post.

 

[Elmo]

My PC is running Windows XP/Professional with SP2.

I run a small technical support operation solely for members of my
family. Their computers run Win/XP Pro and Win/2K Pro. I have
trouble understanding what is wrong and what they actually see on
their monitors.

I would like to be able to see for myself what shows on their
monitors, be able to change settings, etc. to get things fixed.

My idea is to use Microsoft's Remote Desktop Connection. I need to
make sure my PC (Win/XP Pro) is the "PC in charge" even when the
remote PC is running Win/2K Pro. I got the impression reading
Microsoft's documentation that this would not always be possible
especially if the remote PC is running Win/2K Pro.

I'd appreciate any suggestions.

Look into Netmeeting. It's already on all the machines.

 

[David]

It is not a question of "not always be possible" etc. but rather a
hard rule about the OS: To run a Remote Desktop session, the
host PC must run WinXP Professional or Windows Server.
Nothing else will do.

You can use a product such as WinVNC on PCs that run
any of the other Windows OSs.

I guess your reply highlights my lack of understanding. Since the
host PC is required to run Win/XP Pro, is my machine allowed to be the
host? Then, will the host (my PC - Win/XP Pro) be able to control the
remote machines (Win/XP Pro or Win/2K Pro) as I need to?

 

[smlunatick]

It is not a question of "not always be possible" etc. but rather a
hard rule about the OS: To run a Remote Desktop session, the
host PC must run WinXP Professional or Windows Server.
Nothing else will do.

You can use a product such as WinVNC on PCs that run
any of the other Windows OSs.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Look at UltraVNC and their PCHelpware. PCHelpware is the "host module"
that allows you to create the host module that will connect to your
"remote" module as soon as the 'client' clicks on it. This way, your
"clients" do not have to have VNC always running.