Desktop remote access

[camioneur]

I'm no expert but have a good basic knowledge of Pc's. I have to make regular journeys to friends house to sort theirs out..I'd like to set up remote desktop in order to sort theirs out from my house..will remote desktop do this..I'm XP Pro they're XP Home. Is there a better way with software or similar or is remote desktop less complicated that it appears to lamen?

[WoWo]

you can use VNC available at

http://www.vnc.com/

There are a couple of problems you will have, firstly XP Home doesn't come with Remote Desktop so you would need to upgrade to XP Pro on their machine to see it. (or as I said use VNC)

The other bigger problem is how to contact to their machine, you basically need a set DNS address which will respond to requests. I don't know all the ins and outs of it by my Linksys router is able to connect to a site

http://www.dyndns.com/

Which allows it to maintain an ever present link to the outside world (this I understand because on broadband you have a dynamic IP address the linksys router tells dyndns when this changes allowing you to connect).

I for example can connect via VNC from my PC at work to my home machine. But to get this working you really need a broadband connection and router at each PC you want to access. It might be more hassle than it's worth.

[Oneeyedvic]

I was previously advised on here to use www.logmein.com which is totally free - and I must say it is fantastic. My brother in law who lives 3 hours away phoned me up the other day a virus. It was not major and advice from symantec website showed me what to do - but it involved editing registry keys - somehting he would not be comfortable doing. He gave me control over his pc via the above and a little while later it was all backto normal.

100% recommended and no hassle to set up.

[WoWo]

Oneeyedvic is correct of course and I forgot to mention such solutions given you had asked about Remote Desktop.

There are others available over and above www.logmein.com such as co-pilot.

Remote Desktop and VNC are a little more powerfull than these but for your purposes that shouldn't be a problem.

[camioneur]

Thanks to both of you. Vic, I tried Logmein this morning and downloaded the software on mine all no prob but when I tried to do same on friends pc it didn't install any software thats why I posted on here..what did I do wrong any idea? and thanks again

[camioneur]

Just installed software again on mine and can't see how I'm going to connect to my friends PC..When I click on remote control it just gives me the option to connect to myself, I must be daft eh?

[Ethel]

I have remote desktop on xp home.

[camioneur]

<DIV>thanks for that ethel, have you ever used it?

[Ethel]

I have used it only once - when a friend sorted out a minor problem for me.

[Kerplunk]

you could use MSN Messenger, if you both go online he could request remote assistance from you. You can then connect and take control of his pc.

[Oneeyedvic]

Sorry to take so long (actually doing some work for a change).

Your mate needs to install logmein on his machine using the same email address. I set a gmail one up for this purpose.

Hope this helps

[camioneur]

Thanks to everyone, am now up and running with LogMeIn..cheers y'all

[BillyNoMates]

Out of curiosity, are you both using the same ISP ? I've had problems using remote access from my Blueyonder connection to AOL but not to another Blueyonder user in any part of the UK.

I only ask as I believe AOL block certain ports which some remote access software uses.