Using Desktop Remote Control

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abena

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#11932 19-Feb-2007 16:57

Hi, I'm trying to use the Desktop Remote Control, but when I try for help using the msn contacs, no one can do it, it there anything special to the helper to install or to do?

juha

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#61254 19-Feb-2007 17:53

The Remote Assistance feature (I assume you mean that, correct me if I'm wrong) is something that only works once in a blue moon. From what I can tell, you have to use Windows Messenger with it, on both computers, and not MSN/Live Messenger.

Mauricio uses GoToMyPC a lot, and it works pretty well. There's a free trial on the site, but it's pay-ware otherwise. LogMeIn also looks good for remote access. Again, pay-ware but you can try it out.

Juha

kwaan

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#61262 19-Feb-2007 19:01

so why can't you use windows remote desktop connection? only -ve point is that you cant copy and paste stuff across the computers.....but other than that i use it all the time and no problem and best of all its free with your copy of windows.....

if you want to copy stuff across computers then there Symnatics "pcanywhere".....

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
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#61274 19-Feb-2007 22:13

The problem with Remote Assistance is that you need to configure some firewall stuff. I use GoToMyPC as Juha mentioned and Logmein. Logmein is free if you don't need the advanced features (file transfer mainly).

Once you install Logmein you can "invite" people to access your PC with Read Only view or with rights to actually use your PC. Th invite is sent via e-mail so no need for any other IM program.

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grant_k

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#61277 19-Feb-2007 22:21

kwaan: so why can't you use windows remote desktop connection? only -ve point is that you cant copy and paste stuff across the computers...

How backward is that?

VNC has had the ability to Copy/Paste for years. I use the TightVNC version which also has file transfer:

http://www.tightvnc.com/

Best of all -- it's completely free

although you can make a donation if you wish.

I use this software on a daily basis and it has never once let me down. TightVNC even works at quite acceptable speed over a dialup connection so long as you use "8-bit transfers". This restricts the colour palette making photographs look a bit strange, but if you are mainly working with text it's fine.

freitasm

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#61282 19-Feb-2007 22:40

Free and need ports to be open on your firewall... Both Logmein (Free, paid versions) and GoToMyPC (paid) don't need firewall configuration because are "intermediated" services.

Also they accept "read only invitations" so you can share the desktop without relinquising control...

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grant_k

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#61284 19-Feb-2007 22:55

Fair comment, I guess it depends on what you want in a remote control program. Opening ports on my firewall is a non-issue for me. And since nobody else needs to access my various PCs except me, I don't need the "read-only invitations" idea. No doubt it would be handy for some people.

VNC also has a "view only" option by the way...

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kwaan

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#61288 19-Feb-2007 23:58

Grant17:
kwaan: so why can't you use windows remote desktop connection? only -ve point is that you cant copy and paste stuff across the computers...

How backward is that?

VNC has had the ability to Copy/Paste for years. I use the TightVNC version which also has file transfer:

http://www.tightvnc.com/

Best of all -- it's completely free although you can make a donation if you wish.

I use this software on a daily basis and it has never once let me down. TightVNC even works at quite acceptable speed over a dialup connection so long as you use "8-bit transfers". This restricts the colour palette making photographs look a bit strange, but if you are mainly working with text it's fine.

I have used VNC but i dont do any file transfers across computers.....another little annoying (not so much) that you have to have the vnc server running.....where as with windows remote desktop.....enable it in control panel....port forward 3389 and no need to have something loaded up on your taskbar (i just like my task bar as clean as possible) but there is nothing backwards about windows remote desktop.....another good thing is that you dont have to set up username/password as it makes you login with the same username and password you use to log in to windows.....

another feature (not sure if VNC can successfully do that) is when i was in singapore for 3 days,i was controlling my torrents and back in NZ there was a power surge so my computer restarted itself and it was sitting on the windows log in screen but windows xp remote desktop connection even let me connect to my computer straight to the log in screen and i was able to start up my computer again and run my utorrent again.....not sure whether VNC will actually let you show the log in screen without the VNC server being loaded up after a computer restart.....

grant_k

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#61289 20-Feb-2007 00:29

kwaan: not sure whether VNC will actually let you show the log in screen without the VNC server being loaded up after a computer restart.....

One of the PCs I use VNC on has the Novell Netware Client loaded and VNC lets me log in to the server using that.

As for logging in to Windows XP, I can't say because I only have one user account on my PC, so it logs straight in to the desktop.

That's the way I prefer it because we have frequent power outages in the Far North and when I am away somewhere, I want my PC to fire up, load Outlook Express and check for e-mail every 5 minutes so I can login at any time and see what's there.

TightVNC is totally reliable in starting up unattended and uses very little data traffic to achieve its functions. You can hide its System Tray icon if you wish.

I read a review somewhere, which said that the TightVNC protocol has better compression than Windows Remote Desktop, so you use less megabytes of data traffic. This is important when you are connected via mobile phone etc.

abena

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#61291 20-Feb-2007 06:32

Hi, I tried TightVNC, and works pretty good, I also use something a little bit easier: even don't need an installation, and it's also free , is called TeamViewer: http://www.teamviewer.com/. I think I'm going for for the second one....

Thanks Everyone!!