Remote access to desktop

[Chaddesley Accountants]

Hi,

I'm an accountant working primarily from home but occasionally from remote locations.

Can anyone recomend a cost effective, secure and easy to use system that will allow me to access my desktop software and files from my laptop or a public desktop.

Thanks,

Matthew

 

[MartBrooks]

I've not used them personally, but I've heard that http://gotomypc.com/ is pretty good.

 

[Posilan]

LogMeIn Free > https://secure.logmein.com/UK/

This will allow you access to your desktop as though you are sat in front of the PC. We use the paid for "pro" version for remote access and PC monitoring and it works flawlessley.

If you need to transfer files, use Dropbox > http://www.dropbox.com/

Using both of these together will get you what you need for free.

Steve

 

[Jim2k]

Agree with posilan, logmein works a treat and its free.

 

[Chaddesley Accountants]

Thanks Steve. I've just created an account with "LogMeIn". Will try it out tonight (can't right now as I'm working remotely as we speak and so not in front of my desktop!)

Sorry if it's a stupid question but what would "Dropbox" do that "logmein" doesn't? Presumably if "logmein" gives you access to your desktop you can access and update files on that desktop's harddrive?

Matthew

 

[Posilan]

Sorry if it's a stupid question but what would "Dropbox" do that "logmein" doesn't? Presumably if "logmein" gives you access to your desktop you can access and update files on that desktop's harddrive?

Matthew

Not stupid question at all

The free version of LogMeIn does not allow you to transfer files from the remote PC to the one you are connecting remotely on (the Pro version does), so if you need to transfer a physical file rather than just view it remotely, dropbox will let you.

If you have any problems getting up and running, drop me a message and i'll be happy to point you in the right direction.

Steve

 

[Chaddesley Accountants]

Thanks Steve (and all others who responded). I'll have a crack at getting set up on both systems tonight and will drop you a line if I have any trouble.

Matthew

 

[deadgoodundies]

I use ultravnc
http://www.uvnc.com/

Free and you can transfer files

 

[anandp]

Matthew - Logmein is great, as is Teamviewer for remote access. I use 3 PC's regularly, and even though I used logmein, the file transferring backwards and forwards was driving me insane. Version control wasn't great nor was wasting time transferring.

Dropbox solves all this - give it a go. I discovered it only late last year and can't believe how I managed without it.

Dropbox: http://db.tt/2YjzvLr

 

[NetwiseHosting]

Matthew - Logmein is great, as is Teamviewer for remote access. I use 3 PC's regularly, and even though I used logmein, the file transferring backwards and forwards was driving me insane. Version control wasn't great nor was wasting time transferring.

Dropbox solves all this - give it a go. I discovered it only late last year and can't believe how I managed without it.

Dropbox: http://db.tt/2YjzvLr

Nice bit of short linking to an affiliate URL !

Matthew

 

[mbabuskov]

Matthew - Logmein is great, as is Teamviewer for remote access.

Yes, TeamViewer is great, and also free for non-commercial use. Now that they have PC, Mac and Linux version I use it often.

You might also like YuuGuu which is completely free.

 

[Page]

Have you considered having the software hosted

So that it is never on your desktop but down the line and all be backed up for you

 

[colinmacmillan]

I would recommend using VNC or LogMeIn.

With VNC all you would need to do is open a port on your home router/firewall, and point to your PC. Then install VNC on this computer. If you have a desktop firewall you also need to allow VNC traffic through. I use this solution on over 300 computers.

As I recall, LogMeIn is still free for 1 user so this is also easy to use.

A bit of IT knowledge is required but it is not really difficult. Post a reply if you need any help and I'll guide you.

Kind regards,
Colin MacMillan
Publicus Solutions Ltd.

 

[Oscar Tango]

Another vote for teamviewer, great for remote control & file transfer, plus you can reboot remotely and retain control if needed, or still get access if the remote rebooted itself at some point.

 

[computer storm]

RDP port forward 3389 to your machine give machine static IP address jobs a good one, and doesnt cost anything as built in to OS.

 

[Oscar Tango]

...but a static IP will cost and may not be possible, and will take time to acquire.
Most of the solutions mentioned here are also free and don't require a static IP - that's the whole point.

 

[computer storm]

...but a static IP will cost and may not be possible, and will take time to acquire.
Most of the solutions mentioned here are also free and don't require a static IP - that's the whole point.

No the machine at home would have the static IP address not the ISP, and if you have a dynamic ip from isp then you can use DYNDNS as that will resolve to a name and update all the time. As you can download the application that updates the dyndns site with correct dynamic IP address.

And if you read my post you would see that I mentioned the Machine to have static ip address not one from the ISP.

 

[RemoteTechs]

Yeah I'd go for Logmein to make the connection and being you are an accountant and the possible personal nature of the information your likely to be sharing between the machine's I would opt for a VPN rather than drop box, not to take anything away from drop box its a great tool, but security of your files should be your main concern and a VPN (Virtual Private Network) would be safer.

 

[Oscar Tango]

No the machine at home would have the static IP address not the ISP, and if you have a dynamic ip from isp then you can use DYNDNS as that will resolve to a name and update all the time. As you can download the application that updates the dyndns site with correct dynamic IP address.

And if you read my post you would see that I mentioned the Machine to have static ip address not one from the ISP.

I missed that, and I agree that is another option, maybe for the more technically minded though. Might also require some tinkering with the setup on your router if you have a few machines sharing your dynamic IP connection. I would still recommend teamviewer for ease of setup and use IMHO.

 

[Anelly]

Hi,

I'm an accountant working primarily from home but occasionally from remote locations.

Can anyone recomend a cost effective, secure and easy to use system that will allow me to access my desktop software and files from my laptop or a public desktop.

Thanks,

Matthew

I think the best is TeamViewer. Very easy to install and use and it's free for personal use http://www.teamviewer.com/en/index.aspx

 

[andy@telecomhelpcouk]

Would a collaborative option be useful to you?

Google Docs will allow you to share a document with remote staff or clients, highlighting changes in real time across all users.

Just a thought. Andy

 

[Cleveregg]

Another vote here for LogMeIn.
I use it all the time, have the app on my iPhone too.

It easily makes my top 3 apps

 

[Chaddesley Accountants]

Thanks for all the replies! haven't had a chance to read through them all yet but certainly will do. For the minute I've signed up to a logmein account (haven't had a chance to look at drop box yet).

The set-up and interface is great. Really easy to use which is ideal for someone with basic technical knowledge such as myself. The only problem I've got is the quality of the image from the remote computer or laptop. It's so pixelated that it's a real strain to be able to read any text or numbers at all. Any ideas on how I could fix this? Would it be because the desktop I'm accessing has a nice big widescreen monitor where as the remote computer's monitor is much smaller?

 

[Posilan]

Yes, when in a remote session, click "options" at the top then hover over "View" to change from "scale to fit" to "actual size" - you can also zoom in and out there.

Or choose the next icon along to change the remote display resolution for the session.

Steve

 

[Chaddesley Accountants]

Brilliant - that's worked a treat. Thanks again Steve!

Matthew

 

[Office Cleaning]

Another vote for teamviewer - its much quicker startup time than logmein, but I would recommend having logmein as well as if you need to reboot a pc logmein is better at a remote reboot if the pc is hanging than teamviewer.

If you're working crossplatform say from a mac to windows or vice versa teamviewer is better as you dont have to reconfigure the keyboard to match the differences between a mac/windows layout which you do have to if you use logmein.

Also if you have multiple pcs, which at the moment it sounds you do not, but in case you do, you can add all your computers to a quick partner list feature and when you open up teamviewer it signs you into them all at once if they're online and its just one click to remote into any of them straight from your desktop, it makes logmein seem a bit cumbersome and slow to get a connection.

Again another vote for dropbox - great if you want keep everything synched and backed up between your computers.

 

[aaron111]

regarding speed, file transfer, reboot etc. I would suggest you to try for free islonline.com, I found them in c't magazine remote access test

I like it, but if is anything even better, please let me know thnx