Control Another Computer Remotely

Thu Apr 6, 2006 2:15PM EDT

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I work at home, and I do most of my writing and testing with a network of three PCs, two desktops in my office downstairs, and the laptop I roam the house with. Each of the desktops runs certain applications that none of the other computers do.

Unfortunately, this often means that when I'm kicking back on the couch upstairs, a sazerac cocktail in hand, I have to drop everything to run downstairs and hit a few keys on one of the desktops. Not only is this a waste of time, it leads to a lukewarm cocktail.

I've long used GoToMyPC to control computers remotely, but it never really made sense to spend $200 a year just so I could control a computer in the same house. So lately I've been tinkering with Microsoft Windows Remote Desktop, a free application that's part of Windows XP Professional and Media Center.

As remote control applications go, Remote Desktop is quite simple, but there are a few tricks to master (the trick is you have to manually type in the name of the host computer the first time you connect). Luckily, Microsoft has an uncharacteristically good walkthrough on how to set it up. Just head on over to the introduction page and in half an hour you'll be living the remote control dream.

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  • 6 Posted by eesir1905 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:52PM EDT Report Abuse

    Try this : www.logmein.com. It's very easy, so very less technical than MS Remote Desktop. For remote control, it's FREE! And for unlimited no of PCs too. Accessible also through Pocket PC, Smartphone. For extra features like file transfer, etc will have to pay an affordable fee that is very much less than GTMPC. Enjoy!!

  • 7 Posted by brichpmr on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:13PM EDT Report Abuse

    XP's Remote Desktop is very cool! I use it daily to remote into my office PC through secure VPN from the home office Mac, which is also running XP via Virtual PC. Very useful and it's just like I'm there :-)

  • 8 Posted by yodaman42 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    Works well... if you have Windows XP Professional. Most home users only have XP Home Edition, which does not support hosting a Remote Desktop session. You can still use Home Edition to connect to other computers, though.

  • 9 Posted by haxe_baxe on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:17PM EDT Report Abuse

    That cool but not complete it still doesnt make full sense

  • 11 Posted by etorrie on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    brichpmr, there's a version of Remote Desktop Connection available for native Mac OS X. You don't have to run VirtualPC on your Mac to be able to view/control your office PC. I find that the OSX version works surprisingly well, and I avoid the overhead of starting/running VirtualPC

  • 12 Posted by gau_mehta on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    Did anyone here tried Symantec pcanywhere? I use it to access my work computers which has static Ip's. Unlike remote desktop you don't have to be on corporate network, no OS dependency- you can use it from any OS, no need to Change the login(Windows) on another computer- you can use pcanywhere customize login with encryption, Or if someone want to use windows authentication, they can use that. speed depends based on which type of display you like to see. Higher resolution display will be slower on dial-up. If you have cable or Dsl try this product.

  • 13 Posted by xstiffdogx on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    Remote desktop is in win2k also. It is called Microsoft Terminal Service Client. Click start, run, type "mstsc" and it will bring up a connection window.

  • 14 Posted by jetsonwalker on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    yes ther is actualy a compatible free program but it isnt on the market yet it will be on the market next year

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