Remote Access Windows XP Home Edition

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mike
  • Start date Start date
M

Mike

I would like to be able to easily access my father in laws computer. We have
already used Remote Access. It is quite complicated for him to do it each
time. Is there a simpler way to allow me to access his computer without him
having to issue me an invitation? Is there a way to automate it? Can it
somehow be set up that I can just request access and he can grant it without
him having to go thru the password etc?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
Mike said:
I would like to be able to easily access my father in laws
computer. We have already used Remote Access. It is quite
complicated for him to do it each time. Is there a simpler way to
allow me to access his computer without him having to issue me an
invitation? Is there a way to automate it? Can it somehow be set
up that I can just request access and he can grant it without him
having to go thru the password etc?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

First - I will have to assume that by "Remote Access" you actually mean
"Remote Assistance". That is the only remote control capability Windows XP
Home Edition has built-in and you have pointed out (in the subject) that
this is a Windows XP Home Edition PC.

You are not really going to 'automate' the invitation thing too much without
using some sort of macros, etc. In this situation, what you may wish to do
is simply install something like UltraVNC and configure any routers/etc to
allow you to connect anytime you want using the viewer.

A more secure way (still using UltraVNC) would be for you to use what
UltraVNC now calls "PCHelpWare" and create a customize package to give to
your father-in-law and when he neds assistance - you setup on your end and
he runs that.

If that is still too complicated - then you just setup the UltraVNC server
as a service on his as I initially stated and make sure the ports/etc are
allowed through firewlls and forwarded through routers and use something
like DynDNS (any free dynamic DNS service will do) to track the IP address
of the machine. That way - once you set it up - your father-in-law would
have to do nothing but tell you he needs help.
 
Yes, I would suggest VNC.

The only proviso is that VNC passwords are not very secure, and are limited
to eight characters. Thus is is inadvisable to leave it running permanently
and Internet-visible.

In any case, the server side need not be auto-starting, can be started
manually with a desktop shortcut. It can also be configured to ask for
confirmation for each inbound connection. This setup is more secure.

You will achieve much better results if you also install the Mirage driver.
(available from most VNC sites) Without this it's a bit sluggish.

It is also much easier to use if at least one end of the link has a static
IP address, though there are workarounds if that's not the case.
 
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