Problems with Remote Access
BJ also asked: A friend was able to Remote Access my PC,
then the next time he tried he can't get access. We also tried
using VNC but he couldn't get access that way either. (I turned
off Pc-Cillin in case a firewall was blocking him, and checked
to be sure the Windows firewall was off.)
Bj and his friend actually corrected this problem themselves, but I thought this was a question worth addressing.
There are several tools available that will give you remote access to a computer. They work in different ways and have different uses and capabilities. I prefer using VNC when I want to see what the other person is seeing. With VNC I can be on the phone talking to the person and either tell them what to do or take control of their computer and show them something. The disadvantage to VNC is that it is "after market" software and not supported by MS.
Remote Desktop Access - which uses the windows terminal server software - will allow you to connect to another computer and control it from your computer. The advantage to this software is that it is part of Windows and works very well, the disadvantage is that the local user cannot see what the remote user is doing. This is better suited for performing tasks on your computer at work from your computer at home.
Read more about this on the RELATED LINKS below.
RELATED LINK: Download Remote Desktop.
RELATED LINK: A simple "How to use Remote Desktop"
RELATED LINK: Some very detailed tutorials.
The original VNC used to be free. It is tried and proven and now the comes in three different flavors. The newer TightVNC is an open source project that is totally free.
RELATED LINK: The original VNC.
RELATED LINK: TightVNC.
The only problem I have ever had with either of these programs is getting through a hardware firewall. If you have a router connected to your computer, you will have to know the IP address of the router and you will probably have to set up some sort of port forwarding rule in the router software. This is not that difficult, but I think it goes beyond the scope of this article.
Bj and his friend actually corrected this problem themselves, but I thought this was a question worth addressing.
There are several tools available that will give you remote access to a computer. They work in different ways and have different uses and capabilities. I prefer using VNC when I want to see what the other person is seeing. With VNC I can be on the phone talking to the person and either tell them what to do or take control of their computer and show them something. The disadvantage to VNC is that it is "after market" software and not supported by MS.
Remote Desktop Access - which uses the windows terminal server software - will allow you to connect to another computer and control it from your computer. The advantage to this software is that it is part of Windows and works very well, the disadvantage is that the local user cannot see what the remote user is doing. This is better suited for performing tasks on your computer at work from your computer at home.
Read more about this on the RELATED LINKS below.
RELATED LINK: Download Remote Desktop.
RELATED LINK: A simple "How to use Remote Desktop"
RELATED LINK: Some very detailed tutorials.
The original VNC used to be free. It is tried and proven and now the comes in three different flavors. The newer TightVNC is an open source project that is totally free.
RELATED LINK: The original VNC.
RELATED LINK: TightVNC.
The only problem I have ever had with either of these programs is getting through a hardware firewall. If you have a router connected to your computer, you will have to know the IP address of the router and you will probably have to set up some sort of port forwarding rule in the router software. This is not that difficult, but I think it goes beyond the scope of this article.