Remote PC Access

[Minuteman Press]

Does anyone know of any free software that will allow access to a remote PC for home working?

All recommendations welcome.

 

[Subbynet]

logmein.com might work for you. Its a fairly simple solution.

 

[leemason]

You could use VNC. That is free Open Source software.

 

[stugster]

The problem with VNC is that if you're behind a NAT/Router or even a Firewall, you will need to do a bit of configuration to route the correct ports.

LogMeIn removes this problem, as the software on the client-side machine connects to their servers, and the host-side machine also connects to the server (bridging the connection).


LogMeIn is a great tool for the average home/small business user

 

[spreadsheetsdirect]

XP & Vista have a Remote Desktop Connection program in Accessories - Connections. You'll need an IP address, username & password for the computer you want to connect to.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

VNC or one of it's flavours!

 

[Minuteman Press]

Thanks everyone. Really useful.

 

[bluecm]

logmein.com might work for you. Its a fairly simple solution.

I have found this a good little solution I even use it for training clients in remote locations. A nice little service.

 

[intrigue]

Another vote for logmein been using it for a year or so and its excellent.
Matt

 

[Irish]

XP & Vista have a Remote Desktop Connection program in Accessories - Connections. You'll need an IP address, username & password for the computer you want to connect to.

I've tried it with XP & can't seem to get it to work. I also tried it on my friends laptop with Vista & it worked fine. The problem is I only run XP & like I said it doesn't seem to work with XP.

 

[dave_n]

logmein.....everytime

 

[Page]

I have been using Microsoft folder share for a while - it is in beta.

I only have a single test folder but it is doing the job.

You can also share it with different people and select which folders this operates on - plus read all the files on the desktop and laptop from the other.

 

[bigman]

logmein is definately the easiest to setup and use as it wont required you to configure your router etc.

Basic version is free, however if you pay for pro you can transfer files between the local machine and remote, also copy paste text etc.

If you are technically minded VNC is good, just need to sort the port forwarding out on your router.

 

+1 for logmein

 

[confused]

probably your firewall/router, you will need to forward port 3389 and of course enable remote access.

 

[asonda]

Logmein is by far the easiest one to use.

I have a proper account with them that I use for business clients, you can organise all the computers you need to control into different sections.

The basic remote feature is free, no matter how many computers you add.

and quite cheaply (depending on what you use it for) you can add/buy a host of different add ons/extra info etc..

Such as, adding a printer driver to both your pcs, allowing you to print documents off the pc you are controlling to your PC!! Mental stuff.

 

[4little1s]

Another vote for Logmein, pretty easy to set up, easy to use.

 

[iboxsecurity]

i have a great solution worth trying.

A Windows Live tool called "Live Mesh" 5GB online storage and you add as many devices as you want to your account to sync files, you then have access to a virtual desktop so you can access these files should you be without one of your machines. PLUS remote access from one of your machines to another (NAT/Routers dont even cause problems with the many setups ive used). PLUS even better you can do remote access not only from your machine to another but from any machine you have a browser on you can remote access via web interface. Very nice technology.

www.mesh.com

 

[calibra]

Give MS Groove a try.

Pretty good product

 

[Page]

It is a typical MS situation at the moment. They seem to have loads of overlapping solutions which can baffle us all.

 

[Irish]

I have started using logmein as recommended by many UKBF member and all is going well, didn't realise it could be so simple...

 

[Page]

So to have I as a result of this thread.

Free 30 day trial and then less than £1 a week for the pro version and nowt for the free version.

Very easy and very impressive.

 

The majority of people do not even need the 'paid' version - the free one serves most of their tasks quite well.

I have a multitude of customers now who log into their office Pc from home - hope I am not encouraging them all to become lazy sods and to work in the PJ's

 

[4little1s]

The free version is cool and gives you everything you need to work in your PJ's

 

[Page]

After 2 weeks of trial just had an offer that will push the price for pro down to 50p per week.