 starreemPremium
join:2000-12-22
Raleigh, NC
 ·Earthlink Cable ..
 ·EarthLink
| Remote Utilities? Looking for info on remoteutilities.com
My aging father needs help every now and then, and it's getting more and more difficult for him to initiate a remote help session. This seems like a viable alternative to gotomypc or the like, without the monthly fees. I did search here, but no hits came up. I'm curious about the severity of security holes I'm opening up.
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Vuja De - The feeling you've never been here before. |
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 DrStrangeTechnically feasiblePremium
join:2001-07-23
West Hartford, CT
kudos:1 | »www.logmein.com |
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 psafuxPremium,VIP
join:2005-11-10
kudos:2 | reply to starreem
logmein.com |
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 Noah VailSon made my AvatarPremium
join:2004-12-10
Lorton, VA
kudos:1
·Bright House
 ·Sprint Mobile Br..
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Chrome has a Remote Desktop App. I haven't tried it yet.
I spend hours logged in remotely every day. I've used LogMeIn but I find it really unpleasant. I stick with the RDP/Terminal Services that is already built into Windows.
As I write this, I'm at home in FL and working on an infected system in California. I'm connected the RDP built into his Win7 Pro.
There are two catches w/ RDP.
One is you have to be able to work w/ the router/firewall at the other end. It doesn't take long and once it's done you can forget about it.
Second is Windows Home doesn't ship with it enabled. That can be remedied for those that wish.
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Adopting other people's animosity is The New Stupid. |
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 therube
join:2004-11-11
Randallstown, MD | reply to starreem
Remote Acess Software - like TeamViewer |
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 SoonerAlOld enough to know betterPremium,MVM
join:2002-07-23
Norman, OK
kudos:5 | reply to starreem
said by starreem:Looking for info on remoteutilities.com
My aging father needs help every now and then, and it's getting more and more difficult for him to initiate a remote help session. This seems like a viable alternative to gotomypc or the like, without the monthly fees. I did search here, but no hits came up. I'm curious about the severity of security holes I'm opening up.
If your dad's computer is running Win 7/Vista Home Premium edition you could use Windows Live Mesh Remote Connections. Install Live Mesh on the computer you want to remotely access/control. On the client you can use the web interface (install the ActiveX component when prompted) or you can install Live Mesh on the client. Your choice. Live Mesh Remote Connections gives you a Remote Desktop type display. You can connect to the remote computer, ie. your dad's, as long as the machine is on and connected to the public internet...
»explore.live.com/windows-live-me···-what-ui
»explore.live.com/windows-live-me···allow-ui
You can configure the Live Mesh session so the remote user can see what your doing while logged in. See the second screen shot.
The screen shots are on my Win 7 laptop (Ashtabula) connecting to my wife's Win 7 desktop (Spokane) using the web based access (ActiveX control).
Please note that you only need to install the Windows Live Mesh Remote Connections on your dad's computer without installing any other Windows Live Essentials package, ie. Windows Live Mail, etc for example.
You can also use a Limited Windows Live ID that does not include an email account, etc. That is what I did. I have a limited ID that I only use to access Windows Live Mesh Remote Connections and nothing else.
»accountservices.passport.net/ppn···&lc=1033
Lastly TeamViewer is another option. Its free for personal use. IMHO Windows Live Remote Connections is more robust though.
»www.teamviewer.com
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"When all else fails read the instructions..."
MS-MVP Windows Expert - Consumer |
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starreemPremium
join:2000-12-22
Raleigh, NC Reviews:
·Earthlink Cable ..
·EarthLink
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Thanks for all the insight. I foolishly forgot to mention, he is working on an XP machine. It's not robust enough for Windows7, and besides, I'm really not sure he is up for learning another OS  Now almost every time I go, he complains of some software complaining about some update, etc. Invariably, I open up IE, the browser window itself is less than 1/3 of the screen due to umpteen toolbars that get installed inadvertently.
I just now got him using Chrome, so I'll look into their Remote Desktop App. I need to install something that I can initiate, not him.
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Vuja De - The feeling you've never been here before. |
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SoonerAlOld enough to know betterPremium,MVM
join:2002-07-23
Norman, OK
kudos:5 | said by starreem:Thanks for all the insight. I foolishly forgot to mention, he is working on an XP machine. It's not robust enough for Windows7, and besides, I'm really not sure he is up for learning another OS Now almost every time I go, he complains of some software complaining about some update, etc. Invariably, I open up IE, the browser window itself is less than 1/3 of the screen due to umpteen toolbars that get installed inadvertently.
I just now got him using Chrome, so I'll look into their Remote Desktop App. I need to install something that I can initiate, not him.
Look at TeamViewer then...
You can install it as a service on your dad's computer so it starts/runs when the computer is started and you can also setup a pre-determined password (use a strong password) to ease the connection from your remote client.
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"When all else fails read the instructions..."
MS-MVP Windows Expert - Consumer |
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 defiantMVM
join:2000-09-04
Monroe, MI
kudos:2 | TeamViewer can also be set to prevent it from being shutdown inadvertently. It goes on every computer I help support, with owner's permission.
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Employee of Charter Communications. The views and opinions expressed in the post above may not reflect those of my employer.
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 boltEnd of the line DSL sucks.Premium
join:2003-11-11
Charlestown, IN
kudos:1 | reply to starreem
Another vote for the free version of logmein here. I like that you only need a browser to be able to connect into a machine. I currently use it with about a dozen machines. Some I get into when ever I want. Others, I don't connect up until I am called with a problem. It just works. |
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Plus 1 for Tean Viewer |
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SoonerAlOld enough to know betterPremium,MVM
join:2002-07-23
Norman, OK
kudos:5 | reply to starreem
I forgot to add that TeamViewer also has a web based login in case you don't choose to install the client software. See the screen shots. The second shows me my sister-in-law is currently off line so I would not be able to help her at present. I have TeamViewer setup as a service on her computer so when she restarts the machine I would have access using a predetermined password.
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"When all else fails read the instructions..."
MS-MVP Windows Expert - Consumer |
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starreemPremium
join:2000-12-22
Raleigh, NC | Thanks all, great help for sure. I'll get something going for him in the next few weeks.
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Vuja De - The feeling you've never been here before. |
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