Any good Remote PC Software? Share your comments

[joee]

Hello,

My goal is to setup remote pc software on my computer and if needed on a remote computers are that I can provide remote help to them. I do not like Windows Messenger, so I am looking for an alternate software to use to be able to provide remote support to someone.

I have seen a few online places but I do not want to do it via a web browser, but rather a program.

Any suggestions and btw, I am running XP Home not Pro. Let me know asap! Thank you :)

[byroz]

Id suggest using RealVNC its simple, easy to use and they do a free version that allows total control over remote PC's all you need to know is their IP address.

[Fox]

RealVNC is absolutely great, but I don't know if I would use it to diagnose problems over the internet, since it really isn't made with the novice computer user in mind. Don't get me wrong- with the right guide, and some patience, you'd probably be fine with it, but there may be a better option, and it's available in all flavors of XP. I'm talking about Remote Assistance.

[joee]

Thanks for the comments guys, yes I am looking to help people with "remote assistance", do you know anything else besides realnvc? I am pretty tech saavy, through em at me :) . Thank you all!


-Joe

[Bill_Castner]

I believe Fox was referring to the native Remote Assistance feature of Windows XP, not a seperate program. The link from Fox above: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/300546/

[joee]

Ya, I do not like Windows Messenger for Remote Help so I am looking for a seperate program to do this....any more suggestions? Thanks.

[Bill_Castner]

Mesenger only sends the invitation.
It is not the program used for Remote Assistance.

In the alternative you can send the invitation by email. Or, you can configure for accepting unsolicited invitations.

[joee]

How does it setup this remote assistance, if it doesnt use WM?

[Bill_Castner]

It use the Remote Desktop client. This client software can be run on any Windows computer from Win98 -- Vista

. Using email remote assistance offers: http://channels.lockergnome.com/wind...l_xp_pro.phtml

. Remote Desktop client software:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/d...dclientdl.mspx

Tutorial: http://www.windowsnetworking.com/art.../wxprmass.html

[joee]

I'll give that a shot, thank you! :)



--> Great forums, btw.

[joee]

Hey,

Now I tried Remote Assistance twice, once without my AV on and once with it on, both times it crashed my computer :( . Any other suggestions other than real vnc? Thanks

[Bill_Castner]

AV setting should make no difference.
You should open your firewall to allow traffic on port 3389 UDP and TCP. If using the XP SP2 firewall, allow the exception for Remote Desktop.

When you say it crashed, please explain. Was there an error message, error text?

[joee]

Ports, are fine. I ment it "froze", not crashed. Either way, remote assistance is kinda laggy and I do not know how much of a help it could be to be transferring files from their computer, nevermind installing new software on their computer...any suggestions? Appreciate the quick replies.

[Bill_Castner]

Transferring files should be done by mapping to a created share on the target computerr, or using Remote Desktop.

Remote Desktop not Remote Assistance should be used for installing software.

If you think Remote Assistance is "laggy", go ahead and try VNC. Remote Desktop is much faster than VNC.

.

[joee]

How do I figure out a remote ip for people?

[Bill_Castner]

You call and ask them.

Or send them in an email this script:

DateInfo = "WAN IP checked: " & Now & VbCrLf & VbCrLf

set http = createobject("microsoft.xmlhttp")
Http.open "GET","http://ubero.net/ip/ ", false
Http.send
strng = Http.responsetext
DateInfo = DateInfo & " WAN IP: " & strng
Wscript.Echo DateInfo

Have them copy/paste the file into notebad. Use File, Save as..., and save the file as find_my_ip.vbs Place the file in \WINDOWS\System32

Now right-click the desktop, New, Shortcut, and enter as the shortcut target:
wscript %windir%\System32\find_my_ip.vbs

Now all they have to do is click your new shortcut to report their WAN IP back to you.

[rudster]

check out www.logmein.com

very good and its free.

[joee]

Anyone know good software, that requires like NO INSTALLATION on the client side ? I can't be opening ports on someone's router nor tell them how to install things when some of em' have trouble even turning on their computer :) . HELPPPPPPPPP

[Bill_Castner]

If you have XP SP2 and use the native firewall, and have UPnP and SSDP Discovery services enabled, (These are all the default setiings from a Service Pack 2 installation) it will handle the firewall issues all by itself.

As I said way above, for XP machines the remote desktop client that provides remote desktop client support, and remote asistance support, is available on any XP machine by default; and as a download for any Windows computer other than Win95.

.

[Squashman]

I use UltraVNC Single Click. Whenever one of my client or family needs help with a computer issue, they click the little self contained executable file I sent them and it connects back to my computer at home. I then take control of their computer.
http://ultravnc.sourceforge.net/addons/singleclick.html

If you just want to use Web Based Remote assistance, you can use SkyFexFree.

This will let you see what is happening on their computer but you can't control it.
http://www.skyfexfree.com/