Remote assistance vista to XP

[fazer]

Just built my kids their 1st PC, they are running XP home, I'm running Vista home premium 64bit.
Both PC's are connected to a netgear router.
I was wondering if there was a way for me to offer them remote assistance (without invite) from my machine.
I have searched the net and found conflicts with XP to Vista, but not so much with a Vista to XP connection. (nb I have not tried RA yet!) just getting ready for when the little horrors start messing things up, plus would be nice to tutor them remotely.
I know here at work, we just phone ISD and wallop there in my machine without an invite, granted they use win2000, but I'm hoping I can quickly do the same at home.

I have looked at VNC, but boy im crap at networking etc, also tried Teamviewer, easy to set up but seems slow and still requires a user ID.

Ta in advance for any help.

[s_kinton]

If you're not confortable setting up a VNC connection then consider using LogMeIn. It provides basic support for free and other features for a fee, worth a look www.logmein.com

[jonathan_phang]

There are various free web based apps that you can use to control remote computers. Personally, I use http://www.logmein.com to provide tech assistance to my folks and also the in-laws. You basically sign up and account, then physically go the the client that you want to control, and log into your account (just like any webmail account really).

Then, you get the option of adding that computer to your list of controllable ones. To do this, you have to install a small app that will run on startup. Select a decent password and thats it. Go back home, log into your account, click on the remote computer, enter your password, and then you can have control.

There are many versions, and the free one that you can have doesnt enable copy and pasting between the 2 computers, but in terms of installing/uninstalling/looking at a prob, its great. And they can see everything you do - which is quite cool.

There is also http://www.gotomypc.com but to be honest, been using logmein for ages now, so never bothered to investigate that one. Give it a shot. Its become invaluable for me!

JP

EDIT - Damn, beaten to it because of my long-ass instructions

[fazer]

Thanks very much, will give that a whirl

[listy]

dont you have to pay monthly/yearly for both them services?

[Mr JB]

Install ultravnc and then you can use the system name of the other machine to connect. The ultravnc installer normaly changes the windows firewall so it should make it simple for you to connect.

The built in remote desktop on windows is a wast of time as it won't let you interact with the same desktop btw.

[jonathan_phang]

dont you have to pay monthly/yearly for both them services?

I cant speak for gotomypc, but if you look at my earlier post:

There are many versions, and the free one that you can have doesnt enable copy and pasting between the 2 computers... etc etc

So basically no. You dont have to pay, just depends on what you need to do... if you would like to.

[adrianslack]

+1 for the free version of LogMeIn.

I use it for remotely controlling my parents PC (they live 150 miles away from me) when they have their 'senior moments' with their email, etc.

Their PC is XP and I'm on Vista.

[GoNz0]

there was an xp update to remote assist, have you got it ?

its for vista to connect to xp

[Splash]

there was an xp update to remote assist, have you got it ?

its for vista to connect to xp

There was? I've been able to connect from my Vista Ultimate box to XP Pro boxes since release.

[fazer]

Well at the moment I cant really try anything just yet, the bloody PSU has just blown in the kids PC, its currently in RMA, If I get offered I refund I will be getting something a bit more reliable, so it's going to be a weeks time or so before I can start testing these.
Will update when the PC is up and running again.

[Mr JB]

Damm man that bad luck. I have had good experiance with corsair PSU.