Looking for simple remote access software

Hi Hoogendoorn,

RealVNC is my weapon of choice - even has a free version (IIRC)

http://www.realvnc.com/

Hope that helps,

-red

Ultravnc is free. Other flavors are Realvnc and Tightvnc.

But if you have 2 computers with monitors side-by-side, theres actually a much better option.

As your remote computer is running XP just turn on remote desktop.... properties of my computer, remote tab.  Tick "remote desktop" (not remote assistance).

Then download RDP client from Microsoft website (free) and connect to your other machine...

Steve

The simplest and cheapest I have found is PC Anywhere, by symantec.
I use version 10 (Which is an old version) but it does the job very well.

Hello there,

I would highly recommend using logmein. This is a software remote access tool. Its safe and easy to setup and use. You don't have to configure any ports just install the software on the computer and away you go. Its also free.

www.logmein.com

Hope this helps

www.logmein.com

free, web based, and will work across the internet. Or you can pay and get some additional services, like file copy and such.

Good Luck,

you may use remote access directly from your 2000 to xp

all you need to have is access to that computer  you are willing to connect .... its ip address and user name and pasword

but if the pc is in a sub internet then  it will be a slightly difficulty in connecting to it

Guys,

LAN access only he says  ...

I would recommend Chris Control. It is also free. It is the first one on the list. It will give you the ability to RDP or VNC to any machine on your lan. The VNC option will automatically install itself to your target machine then remove itself when it is finished. So there is no need to install any additional software. This is based on Ultra VNC.

 -:-» ChrisControl - [v1.5] - An RDP + VNC Remote Control Tool, with remote VNC installation - Screenshot - Source Code - Help
........................................Command Line Options


http://www.chall.plus.com/winpe/

Joe

I agree with Dragon-it. There is no need to download or purchase any software if he is using windows XP. Windows XP had remote desktop built into it.

Simply enable remote desktop and then connect to the PC with a remote desktop client.

Here is the step by step walkthrough with pictures:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/mobility/getstarted/remoteintro.mspx

THe instructions say it is for XP Pro, but it should be the same for XP home if that is what you are running.

Let me know if you have any questions.

PS: You may want to make sure you have a good password no matter what type of remote destop software you are using.

-Kruptos

With VNC you can control both locally and remotely at the same time (great! used it many times). Unlike Remote Desktoy (so I've been told)

I am not sure what your point is... But with Remote Desktop you can control both locally and remotly at the same time.

I agree with callrs, VNC will not log the current user off - you INTERACT with the users desktop session, not replace it

-red

Dear experts, thanks for your many reactions. It will take some time to try out some options, but of course I will let you know my choice and the one who draw attention to the option I will select, will of course get the points.
Meanwhile I tried logmein. The concept seems nice, however, the connection between my two PC's has to pass internet, while I prefer a connection without passing the internet.

Jan (Hoogendoorn).

Galaxip, I was thinking about PC Anywhere too, but there is a problem about the price. You say it is cheap, but if I look at the website of Symantec, they only offer a package of $ 199.95. Or did I not look well enough and is there also a kind of personal version?

Jan.

ultra vnc is very good choice its more speedy and has file transfer module and is freeware.

If you try Chris Control you can have both options to RDP or VNC to your target machine.

I mostly have seen it at local computer expo shows and on eBay.
a current link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/pcAnywhere-10-0-New-Unused_W0QQitemZ140028054385QQihZ004QQcategoryZ3776QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

For my purposes I have not need the latest, most pricey version.

I like the concept of Chris Control very much and I would like to use it. I tried it with the computer of my wife (which runs under Windows 2000 Pro) and everything went fine. However, I face problems with the computer which I have in mind to access remotely and which runs under Windows XP Media Center Edition (MCE). I tried to give my computer access to the MCE computer, however, at System_Properties/Remote/Select_Remote_Users/Add/Locations I see only the name of the MCE-computer itself and not the name of my computer (or other computers on the network), while at the same time I can reach my computer from the MCE-computer (so the network connection must be OK). Anybody has any suggestions to overcome this problem?

Unless your computers are on a domain with a server running asa DC which they aren't  then you can't use a central a/c on other computers.

Best bet is either to create a user account on the XP computer that matches your other computer username or just use the administrator or your existing login over the rdp connection and add this user to the remote desktop users group if needed.

Steve

Well, Steve, I tried, but still I cannot access the XP computer with Chris Control. I realy don't know what can be wrong.

callrs:  HE SAYS IT IS TO CONTROL ONE PC ON HIS LAN FROM ANOTHER ***ON HIS LAN***

Hoogendoorn:  When you using Remote desktop client to connect to the other machine does it come up with a login / password box.  If it does it could be an issue with the user you are using, otherwise you havent got that far.  

Try typing

netstat -an | find "3389" on the XP computer.  If it shows a line starting 0.0.0.0:3389 and LISTENING then the computer is working OK, if not then it sounds like remtoe desktop is not turned on - check the remote desktop tick box, not remtoe assistance.

Steve

VNC works WITHIN A LAN. I've used it to control a basement computer from upstairs...

Steve, I executed the netstat command and it shows the line as you described. Also Remote Desktop is on (I checked it). I installed the RDP client on my Windows 2000 Pro machine, however, when I browse for connections and click the workgroup to expand, I get the massage "The HOMENET domain/workgroup does not contain any Terminal servers".
An additional remark: I succeeded to control the XP with UltraVNC. Now you might say, why don't you continue using UltraVNC? I prefer using Chris Control because it installs and starts (and removes) the remote server by itself. But if the problem with Chris Control persists, then UltraVNC is of course an acceptable alternative.

Jan.

You don't do it like that.  Just type in the IP addres of the other machine.

Steve

I tried that alreay, Steve. However, the same result.

Jan.

BTW re: Chris Control.  If this is just another PC in your house there is no sane reason IMO why you could want to uninstall and re-install VNC every time to access it -- just have it installed and running as a service (I know realvnc does this, no doubt the others do too) and have a shortcut on your desktop to run VNC across to the other machine!

Steve

Yes Steve, in principle you are right, but a problem with the VNC-service on the XP (MCE) pops up (again) (which I thought to be vanished, but appears still to be there). After a remote session on the XP, Media Center has problems with the video drivers and watching TV is only possible again after restarting the XP. So I thought, if Chris Control uninstalls the server, I will not meet this problem. But may be the best solution would be to use the standard Windows utilities (RDP on the 2000 with Remote Desktop on the XP), but as I already mentioned before, the RDP does not see the XP.

Jan.

At the end I decided to use UltraVNC, although it causes some strange behaviour with respect to messages concerning video-driver compatibility after a session with UltraVNC.

I gave 100 points to callrs, who came first with the suggestion to use UltraVNC and defended its usefulness afterwards, and 75 points to Steve, for his interactive support.

Thanks to all.