unattended remote assistance

[Roberto]

I know that this question must have been answered somewhere in this forum. However, I searched it and cannot find any reference to unattended remote assistance.

Here is my question:
I have a desktop computer at work with XP Home on it. I have a laptop with XP Pro. I have connected to the desktop (with XP Home) from my laptop (with XP Pro) without any problem. However, it required that the desktop respond to and accept an assistance request.

I would like to connect to the desktop when I am away and using my laptop. Is it possible to automatically set it up to accept assistance when no one is at the desktop?

[doctorgonzo]

If you are talking about Remote Desktop, there are other ways of doing that without using the Assistance Wizard nonsense.

Ultra VNC is remote desktop software. You download the software, set up the server portion on the desktop, and then use the client on the laptop to connect to the desktop at any time. There are tons of configuration options available, and you can password protect it, etc.

[faulkner132]

http://www.pcmech.com/show/internet/1048/

[Roberto]

Yes. I understand that it may be possible to configure an unattended remote connectoin with other software.

Can I do it with my current configuration?

[Ob1]

you need xp pro on your desktop in order to connect remotely with remote desktop connection. home only supports remote assistance which requires some to turn over full control before you can start working on that system remotely. hence the reason to use vnc or pc anywhere with home or upgrade to xp pro

[Roberto]

Darn. Although connecting to my desktop is most important to me for work I was also hoping to help my family with their PCs since they all have XP Home and would have no idea on how to install vcn or PC Anywhere. I understand that if I install PC Anywhere then it will diwsable remote assistance? Is this also true for vcn?

[Ob1]

i've never heard that one about pc anywhere disabling remote assistance. its quite easy to configure pc anywhere. first if you have a router or if your pc is connected directly to a modem and is running a firewall at each of these locations you need to open ports tcp 5631- udp 5632. i believe pc anywhere will detect and automatically open those ports on the pc it is installed on with the windows firewall. you can double check this by looking in the exception list for the windows firewall.

1. In the pcAnywhere Manager window, on the left navigation bar, click Hosts.
2. On the File menu, click New > Item > Use Wizard.
3. In the Host Setup Wizard window, select a connection type.
4. To increase performance for low-bandwidth connections (for example, modems), under Optimized for, click Low bandwidth.
This option lowers the video resolution on the host screen to optimize speed. The default setting is High bandwidth, which optimizes the connection for speed and video resolution.
5. Click Next.
6. Under Host start up options, select any of the following:
Launch with Windows: Automatically starts the host session when the host computer is started.
Lock computer: On Windows NT/2000/XP, prevents unauthorized users from accessing the host computer.
On Windows 98/Me, starts the Windows screen saver, if one is configured on the host computer. Protect the screen saver with a password to prevent unauthorized users from accessing the computer.
Run minimized: Hides the status dialog box.
A host icon appears in the system tray when the host is waiting for a connection.
Run as a service: Recommended for Windows NT/2000/XP for optimum performance.
7. Click Next.
8. To encrypt the data stream between the host and remote computers, under Encryption level, select one of the following:
pcAnywhere encoding: Scrambles the data using a mathematical algorithm so that it cannot be easily interpreted by a third party.
This option is available on any operating system that pcAnywhere supports.
Symmetric: Encodes and decodes data using a cryptographic key.
This option is available on any operating system that supports the Microsoft CryptoAPI, such as Windows NT/2000/XP. For Windows 98/Me, you can obtain the CryptoAPI by installing Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or later.
Symantec pcAnywhere also supports public key encryption. This is an advanced configuration option that is not available in this wizard.
9. For additional security, if you selected an encryption option, check Deny lower encryption level.
This option prevents connections from other computers that use a lower level of encryption or no encryption.
10. To optimize performance, if you selected Symmetric encryption, check Encrypt user ID and password only.
This option encrypts only the authentication process between the host and remote computers. This improves performance, but is less secure than encrypting the entire session.
11. Under Authentication type, select one of the following:
pcAnywhere: Validates a user by checking the list of users and passwords that are maintained on the host computer.
Use this method for non-network connections or if your environment does not support the other authentication methods. This method of authentication is the least secure.
NT: Available only on Windows NT/2000/XP. Validates a user or group by checking a workstation or domain user list.
ADS (Active Directory Services): Available only on Windows 2000/XP. Validates a user or group by checking a list that is stored in an Active Directory Service.
Symantec pcAnywhere supports other authentication methods that are not included in this wizard.
12. Click Next.
13. To add a list of users who are allowed to connect to the host, click Add.
Symantec pcAnywhere requires a user name and password for all host sessions. When you click Add, pcAnywhere prompts you for information based on the authentication method that you specified earlier.
14. Click Finish.

The host item is added to Hosts window.

finally after you name it right click on it and choose start

[faulkner132]

Originally Posted by Roberto Darn. Although connecting to my desktop is most important to me for work I was also hoping to help my family with their PCs since they all have XP Home and would have no idea on how to install vcn or PC Anywhere. I understand that if I install PC Anywhere then it will diwsable remote assistance? Is this also true for vcn?

You can just install TightVNC on their system and connect remotely. They will be able to see you moving the mouse and typing. The guide covers how to do everything.

[Kareeser]

Personally, I find PCAnywhere to be more hassle than it is worth. Sure, it's probably got some special code in there, and a smattering of cool features, but it took me an hour to set it up, compared to the 5 minutes it took for me to use TightVNC

P.S. In my experience, UltraVNC is "quicker"

[Ob1]

http://www.pcmech.com/show/internet/1048/

[Roberto]

I have PC Anywhere 10.0 and have not installed it on PCs with XP home or pro because of the following warning message I receive at the start of the installation:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
This version of PC Anywhere replaces the current version of MSGINA which controls the way you log into windows. As a result certain new windows features might be disabled, including: Fast User Switching, Terminal Services and Remote Desktop.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

In addition, since this is an older version of PC Anywhere it does not have wizards to aid in the configuration. In reviews its bad feature was the difficulty in properly setting it up. I know that this would make it nearly impossible for some of my family to use.

[ITlover]

Doctorgonze, is configuration on Ultra VNC(virtual Network Computing) easy?

I'll check this link of ultra vnc soon.

well the article on "remote desktop connection" is a clear guide on how to establish a connection with a PC remotely from another PC or Laptop.

You can establish a remote desktop connection with a computer remotely if your destination computer is miles away from you through internet. But for that you have to establish a VPN connection.

both your computer and destination computer should be connected to internet and their will be no need for any software.

[ITlover]

Originally Posted by Roberto I know that this question must have been answered somewhere in this forum. However, I searched it and cannot find any reference to unattended remote assistance. Here is my question: I have a desktop computer at work with XP Home on it. I have a laptop with XP Pro. I have connected to the desktop (with XP Home) from my laptop (with XP Pro) without any problem. However, it required that the desktop respond to and accept an assistance request. I would like to connect to the desktop when I am away and using my laptop.Is it possible to automatically set it up to accept assistance when no one is at the desktop?

The question is that who will then provide technical assistance if nobody is available at the desktop?

[TPM]

Anyone try Logmein?? I find it is the easiest and best

[faulkner132]

Originally Posted by ITlover You can establish a remote desktop connection with a computer remotely if your destination computer is miles away from you through internet. But for that you have to establish a VPN connection.

You do not have to use a VPN at all. VPN is only if you want to make the connection secured. You can set up your host computer by simply forwarding the appropriate port.

[Ob1]

Originally Posted by Roberto I have PC Anywhere 10.0 and have not installed it on PCs with XP home or pro because of the following warning message I receive at the start of the installation: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This version of PC Anywhere replaces the current version of MSGINA which controls the way you log into windows. As a result certain new windows features might be disabled, including: Fast User Switching, Terminal Services and Remote Desktop. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In addition, since this is an older version of PC Anywhere it does not have wizards to aid in the configuration. In reviews its bad feature was the difficulty in properly setting it up. I know that this would make it nearly impossible for some of my family to use.

that is one problem with ver10 so if you are like the fast user switching screen then dont install it as it will remove that feature and switch your login in process over to a classic login screen where you type a username and password to gain access to the system.

if you want to use pc anywhere go with ver. 11 if you can find it, or go with ver.12 . it a lot easier to setup IMO and you still get to use fast user switching.

[Kareeser]

Originally Posted by ITlover Doctorgonze, is configuration on Ultra VNC(virtual Network Computing) easy?

It's fairly easy to install UltraVNC. Default options will work great, just keep clicking next in the install.

You will have to forward port 5900 if you are using a router, or if your modem is in a router-type mode.

You can then connect by ip from a remote computer which has the UltraVNC Viewer installed (same file)

[doctorgonzo]

Yes, I have found configuration of UltraVNC to be pretty easy. For home use, you pretty much just have to set a password and maybe a port to connect to, and that's it.

[Roberto]

ITlover,

In answer your question about who will receive remote assistance if no one is available at the desktop,

I was hoping that I could use remote assistance for 2 reasons. One, to connect to my desktop when I am away from work to pick up important files or run programs. Obviously, in this situation there would not be anyone at the desktop. Two, to connect to family members and provide them assistance.

I now understand that with XP home (which is on my desktop) I cannot make an unattended connection. So, to accomplish item one I need a different software program. Perhaps Ultravnc or Tightvnc. I am not sure which one.

Howver, since I have XP pro on my laptop I can use Remote Desktop to help family members even though though they may have XP home on their PCs. So, item two was never the question. I just do not want to lose this option since it is so easy to assist family members with this setup.

[faulkner132]

Originally Posted by Roberto In answer your question about who will receive remote assistance if no one is available at the desktop, I was hoping that I could use remote assistance for 2 reasons. One, to connect to my desktop when I am away from work to pick up important files or run programs. Obviously, in this situation there would not be anyone at the desktop. Two, to connect to family members and provide them assistance.

Install the TightVNC server on the machine you want to connect to and you can connect to the system and control it when nobody is sitting there.

Originally Posted by Roberto I now understand that with XP home (which is on my desktop) I cannot make an unattended connection. So, to accomplish item one I need a different software program. Perhaps Ultravnc or Tightvnc. I am not sure which one.

Yes you can, using the TightVNC server.

Originally Posted by Roberto Howver, since I have XP pro on my laptop I can use Remote Desktop to help family members even though though they may have XP home on their PCs. So, item two was never the question. I just do not want to lose this option since it is so easy to assist family members with this setup.

Your laptop is the client, which has nothing to do with your family member's computer. Since your family has XP Home, you need the TightVNC server installed on their machine and then you can connect to it through a VNC client.

[Ob1]

you can install the remote desktop software client on these Supported Operating Systems: Windows 2000; Windows 95; Windows 98; Windows ME; Windows NT; Windows Server 2003; Windows XP home and use it to connect to machines that are running xp pro, server 2000,2003, but you still won't be able to connect to xp home with using remote desktop connection.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en

sounds like he just needs to install tightvnc or ultravnc on his machine that is running xp home on, since nobody will be there to turn over control of the machine. from my understanding everyone else he helps will still use remote assistance.