Remote Access on XP

[L.A. Tripp]

I hope I don't confuse anyone that can help me. I live 3 hours from my parents. Three of my boys live near them and stay with them frequently. I have set up a computer for them at my parent's house. My boys have gotten tons of spyware and junk on their computer. If I was there, in person, I could clean it all off, but I'm trying to figure out how to remotely access that computer to work on it from home. How do I do that? Both comps are running XP. Can anyone help me?

[EzyStvy]

If both pc's are XP Pro, you can use the built in RDC (remote desktop connection) software.

Then there's internet based apps like GoToMyPc:
http://www.gotoyourpc.net/gogl/

There is also a free version but I can't remember it's name.

[L.A. Tripp]

Actually they are both XP Home.

Will the web app, GoToMyPc, allow me to actually run scans on the remote computer and even allow me to get into the program files and add and remove programs on the remote computer? I know that's what I need to do with it, and I'm not sure if the web app would allow me to do that. Do you know if it will?

[EzyStvy]

It's allow you to control the machine as if you were sitting it front of it.

[L.A. Tripp]

Wow. Ok. Thanks for the info. Is there a way to control the comps running XP Home without that web app?

[pally01]

I used to have Mom send me a remote assistance invitation. That worked well but was cumbersome to have her do.

Freakitchen pointed me to https://secure.logmein.com/go.asp?page=home&lang=en

It's web-based. There's a free and a paid version (the paid gives you file transfer capability). I use this program now and it works very well. You can do everything remotely that you could if you were actually using that particular p.c.

[EzyStvy]

There are several free versions of a program called VNC or a paid program called PcAnywhere that will allow you to control another pc..

[L.A. Tripp]

Thanks so much all of you. I just checked into the remote assistance built into XP and it appears the easiest way to do that would be for both comps to be logged into msn messenger.

Well, I walked my mom through the process of downloading the gotomypc program, and she is someone who is COMPLETELY computer illiterate. (I had to explain in detail the buttons of the mouse and what they are used for and how and how to move it.) It took us a couple of hours for her to navigate following my instructions over the phone, but we FINALLY got the program on there and on mine and it works wonderfully. We're using the 30 day trial for it right now, so I will DEFINITELY check out those other ones you guys have told me about here. The free ones.

Again, thanks SO much for your help. I have been able to clean their computer and smooth it out so much.

[Petef56]

ABOUT REMOTE ASSISTANCE & HOW TO USE IT
http://www.htworkshop.com/freeinfo_a...assistance.htm

---pete---

[L.A. Tripp]

Thanks SO much. That makes it much clearer.

[ITlover]

You can even use VNC(Virtual Network Computing) to access the computers remotely from your computer.

www.vnc.com

Also you can use to connect remotely to computers without using remote assistance.
simply put a check on "allow users to remotely connect to this computer" in the remote tab of System Properties of the destination computer.
Your destination computer will become a remote desktop server.

Than at your home computer ,go to start----> All programs------> Accessories----->Communication------> remote desktop connection.

A remote desktop window will pop up at your desktop ,just enter the computer name of your destination computer or its IP address and also enter the username and password of the destination computers admin account on your remote desktop window

Than you will be remotely connected to your parents computer.

[L.A. Tripp]

I've been trying to figure out the VNC program. Haven't been able to get it working though. I have it downloaded on both the client and the host, but can't figure out the server name for the viewer to enter it on my computer.

And, for the remote assistance in XP, thanks so much for explaining that to me. I finally see how that works now, but again, the name of the comp at my parent's computer isn't working. I input the name that the computer down there is named, but it didn't connect. And yes, the box has been checked to allow remote assistance. It's actually been checked on that computer and on this one.

For the time being, I'm using the GoToMyPC program, which is really nice, but I'm still trying to figure out these others, the free ways of doing this.

[EzyStvy]

The computer name will only work in a local area network...You'll need to enter the IP address...

[L.A. Tripp]

Ok, gotcha on the IP address. However, I've found the IP address and put it into the box for the remote desktop connection on Windows XP. It actually looks like it will connect, but then says either the computer on the other end is busy, which it's not, because I checked to makes ure nothing was running and the CPU usage isn't running wild, or there could be network problems. I've tried two days in a row now, and get the same results. Now, it does show the IP address for that computer is for some reason in Sikeston Missouri, when the comp itself is in Mayfield, KY. I don't understand that one.

[ITlover]

Are you using an internet connection at your home PC to access your parents computer remotely? are your parents computer connected to internet as well?

If you are living at 3 hours distance from your parents computer than it cannot be a LAN.
Do 1 more thing, add your computers user account on the "remote desktop user" group of your parents computer.

Right click My Computer-----> Properties------> Remote------> "remote desktop user group"

In this tab you can add as many users whom you want to alllow remote access to the computer. By default members of Admin group can access remotely even if they are not listed into the remote desktop user group.

There might be a problem with your connection thats why you are geting a busy error messege.

[ITlover]

Uncheck the "send remote assistance invitation from this computer" on your parents computer.

[L.A. Tripp]

Well, I didn't see where I could add users. I didn't see a "remote desktop user group". I don't see any kind of "group" like that. I did right click my computer, properties, remote. All that was there was basically that "send remote assistance" thing that you also said to uncheck, which I did. I was using LAN, but changed that. Still won't connect. Still giving the same message. Is it because I'm not connecting the computers through Windows Messenger?

[ITlover]

well these tabs are available when you just right click my computer and go to remote tab.

Are you using winxp or something else?

[L.A. Tripp]

winxp home

[L.A. Tripp]

I don't know how much this influences the behavior of what I'm trying to do, but I've figured out I'm behind a NAT. Any ideas how to work around that?

[L.A. Tripp]

Ok, I just tried the "edit" option, and hit reply, but it didn't post and I lost it all, so no one complain that I didn't "edit", lol.

Alright, I finally figured out how to use the "logmein" that was referred to earlier in this thread. The viewing screen I got for it, however, was barely readable, and GoToMyPC is much easier to see and read so much easier to work with, obviously.

Now, I still haven't figured out how to make the VNC program work, and obviously haven't figured out how to make the remote assistance work. A couple of other questions too . . .

I also have a computer in my home network that has Ubuntu on it. Would it be any easier for me to work with remote assistance FROM that computer? Or not because it's not Windows? I also have my mother-in-law now and HER mother that are wanting me to connect to their computer and work on them . . . with the later one being on dial-up, so I figure that would be crazy for me to remote connect to that one, me being on high-speed and her on dial-up, or am I wrong about that?

Anyway, if I understand GoToMyPC correctly, I would have to pay for a different account for each one, right? So, is there any way at all that I can get the remote access or VNC working so that I can work with each of their computers?