Shortcut to Remote Desktop Connection

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dale Walker
  • Start date Start date
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Dale Walker

My granny has just bought a computer and has no clue how to use it.
Even the simplest tasks are a frustrating nightmare for her so we're
regualrly connected up via remote desktop so that I can untangle
whatever mess she's got herself into. Unfortunately, even the simple
task of explaining each time how to access the remote desktop is a
chore.

Is there a way to create a shortcut/script that will automatically
connect to a specified MS Messenger user (me), log me in and allow me
to take control without having to go through the several hoops usually
required?
 
Is this Windows XP Professional? You could set up Remote Desktop for a
specific account and logon this way without her intervention.

315328.KB.EN-US How to Use the Remote Desktop Feature of Windows XP
Professional
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315328

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Darren Hook
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Microsoft PSS

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If both you and your Grandmother are running XP (Pro or Home) then look at Remote Assistance, which
is designed to do exactly what you want...

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;305608

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/focuson/remoteassist.asp

Otherwise look at Darren's suggestion...

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Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the mutual benefit of all of us...
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This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights...
 
Yes, I know how to use remote assistance.

Unfortunately my granny doesn't and I'm fed up trying to explain where
the start button is, let alone how to find remote assistance (you try
expalaining where the "Invite a friend to connect" button is over the
phone to a panicking little old lady). Then it's... "double click the
little blue man with 'Dale' next to it", "that's two quick clicks
granny, not just one"... "with the left mouse button granny"), etc,
etc., hence the 'several hoops' comment.

Face it, Remote Assistance is not a simple one-click exercise for
absolute beginners. Despite this being at least the fifth time we've
gone through this, it still takes 10mins+ just to connect.

My granny needs a simple Big red "PANIC" button on the desktop which
does all that argybargy for her.

I would use the far superior "remote desktop connection" but
unfortunately, she's using an ISP with a dynamic IP address and a NAT
ADSL Router which means it's next to impossible to use this method.
 
Sorry, but "if only". I use Remote Desktop Connections all the time
for work and they're fabulous but work's on a visible, static IP
address with a proper domain name so it's easy to set up.

My granny is on a dynamic IP address behind a NAT ADSL router which
makes life hell for making R-D Connections.

Got any hints how to get around that lot and I'll be your friend
forever.
 
The easy way to do this is to use a dynamic DNS service provider
(i.e., dyndns.org, noip.com) to provide a friendly name to the IP
address of the router (and the client keeps it up date).

Secondly, check the router manual to find out how to forward TCP Port
3389 to the private IP address (accessible via IPCONFIG) of the
computer.

Then you would use Remote Desktop in the manner that you are used
to...

Jeffrey Randow (Windows Net. & Smart Display MVP)
(e-mail address removed)

Please post all responses to the newsgroups for the benefit
of all USENET users. Messages sent via email may or may not
be answered depending on time availability....

Remote Networking Technology Support Site -
http://www.remotenetworktechnology.com
Windows XP Expert Zone - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
 
Jeffrey Randow (MVP) said:
The easy way to do this is to use a dynamic DNS service provider
(i.e., dyndns.org, noip.com) to provide a friendly name to the IP
address of the router (and the client keeps it up date).

Secondly, check the router manual to find out how to forward TCP Port
3389 to the private IP address (accessible via IPCONFIG) of the
computer.

Then you would use Remote Desktop in the manner that you are used
to...
Click to expand...

Hmmm. Think I've done everything right but it's still not working.
The main difference between our work system and this one is that it
has a VPN server but currently, 'Granny-PC' doesn't.

I've

1. Set up a dynamic DNS thingumy with dyndns.org... This bit works
fine.
2. Set up port fwd (3389) on DG814 ADSL router to IP of Granny-PC.
3. Set up XP Pro (System properties/remote) Remote desktop - "Allow"
ticked.
4. Created admin user 'Dale' on Granny-PC. Set up "Remote Users" to
allow access to Granny-PC/Dale.

Anything else? Bit worried about the lack of VPN. Can I set up XP-Pro
to be a 1 user VPN server? If so, how?

TIA.
 
As for your last part, take a look at
http://onecomputerguy.com/networking/xp_vpn_server.htm for
instructions on how to set up the XP end of the VPN server (note that
you still need to forward TCP Port 1723 and enable GRE).

As for the issue, are you sure that the "Granny-PC" has a static
Private address? If it doesn't, it is possible for it to be assigned
a new address, thus invalidating the port forwarding.. Another thing
to check is to have the someone at the machine run "netstat -A" and
see if Remote Deskto is indeed functioning (look for
MACHINENAME:3389).

Jeffrey Randow (Windows Net. & Smart Display MVP)
(e-mail address removed)

Please post all responses to the newsgroups for the benefit
of all USENET users. Messages sent via email may or may not
be answered depending on time availability....

Remote Networking Technology Support Site -
http://www.remotenetworktechnology.com
Windows XP Expert Zone - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
 
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