Posted: 4/12/2014 10:03:27 AM EDT
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Anybody here use any type of remote access software/service?
I've got elderly parents who need help on their computer and need a way of remoting into their PC so I can basically do everything for them. MS Remote Desktop won't work because I need to share the desktop. I was using a Logmein Rescue account, but that required them to be able to click to a web page and enter a code, but I can't rely on that any more. Just today my dad was trying to get into his bank account and I told him he has to log in on the web page first, and he said "What's log in mean?" Passwords are also a problem. I can drive up there and install or set up anything I need. Basically after that I need to be able to remote in without any input from them. And I also need to be able share the desktop/mouse so they can see what's going on and I can guide them through actions and ask them questions - like a standard helpdesk. I've been looking at TeamViewer and NoMachine, but never tried them. Cheap is good, free is better. Anyone here use a free desktop sharing service that doesn't require input from the client every time to connect? |
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This...right after XP is upgraded to 7 or 8. |
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This...right after XP is upgraded to 7 or 8. Yep. WinXP is one big piece of remote access software. |
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This...right after XP is upgraded to 7 or 8. There is no way they are ever going to be able to deal with a new OS. Basically I'm going to be supporting XP for them until they die. Trying to get them to use Win7 or 8 would be a nightmare. |
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Quoted: There is no way they are ever going to be able to deal with a new OS. Basically I'm going to be supporting XP for them until they die. Trying to get them to use Win7 or 8 would be a nightmare. Quoted: There is no way they are ever going to be able to deal with a new OS. Basically I'm going to be supporting XP for them until they die. Trying to get them to use Win7 or 8 would be a nightmare. If you leave their XP computer connected to the Internet, you're crazy. I'm serious.
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I may have misunderstood what I heard on the radio the other day, but I thought I heard some tech insider guy say that Microsoft will continue to support XP for a large support fee for consumers and business willing to pay said fee. That was the first I heard of that, but if true, that would make sense. There's a ton of quality software on the market that will only get the job done in XP.
Wes |
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Quoted:
I may have misunderstood what I heard on the radio the other day, but I thought I heard some tech insider guy say that Microsoft will continue to support XP for a large support fee for consumers and business willing to pay said fee. That was the first I heard of that, but if true, that would make sense. There's a ton of quality software on the market that will only get the job done in XP. Wes You have to have a certain number of seats to qualify, it's like a volume OS license. OP, I don't understand the reluctance to move to Win7, it can be made to look exactly the same. |
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If you leave their XP computer connected to the Internet, you're crazy. I'm serious. You're getting off point. This is not the time for a security discussion. They only turn on the PC to perform a specific task, then turn it off again for a month, so it's not left connected. I need a remote desktop that will load a client on start up and allow me to log in with no input/password from them and share the desktop so they can watch what I do. |
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Quoted: You're getting off point. This is not the time for a security discussion. They only turn on the PC to perform a specific task, then turn it off again for a month, so it's not left connected. I need a remote desktop that will load a client on start up and allow me to log in with no input/password from them and share the desktop so they can watch what I do. Quoted: Quoted: If you leave their XP computer connected to the Internet, you're crazy. I'm serious. You're getting off point. This is not the time for a security discussion. They only turn on the PC to perform a specific task, then turn it off again for a month, so it's not left connected. I need a remote desktop that will load a client on start up and allow me to log in with no input/password from them and share the desktop so they can watch what I do. it doesn't seem like they're power users, so Win7 shouldn't be that big of a change for them |
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OP, I don't understand the reluctance to move to Win7, it can be made to look exactly the same. First, training for a new OS would be a nightmare. And their old P.O.S. Dell won't even come close to running Win7, so that means a new PC, transferring data and programs over, more training, etc. That's not in the realm of possibility with my 86 year old father. I'm trying to come up with a stop-gap measure before having to take all aspects of his life over. I've already started driving him everywhere because when he gets on the road it's just too fucking scary. So, changing PCs or OSes is not an option. And neither is getting them to enter usernames or passwords. ETA: I don't think I can get into their Verizon FiOS router to open ports, so I need something that doesn't require punching holes in the firewall. |
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I read this as "I'm okay with my parent's computer being part of a botnet". If you leave their XP computer connected to the Internet, you're crazy. I'm serious. Quoted:
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There is no way they are ever going to be able to deal with a new OS. Basically I'm going to be supporting XP for them until they die. Trying to get them to use Win7 or 8 would be a nightmare. If you leave their XP computer connected to the Internet, you're crazy. I'm serious. I would be more worried about the 10's of thousands of ATM's running XP than a single lowly desktop. Not to mention all of the PC's in the retail industry still running Windows 2000 SP4 (at best). Hell, some are still running Windows NT4. |
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This is kind of expensive but it would do what you are asking.
http://www.dameware.com/products/mini-remote-control/licensing-and-pricing.aspx |
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Quoted: You're getting off point. This is not the time for a security discussion. They only turn on the PC to perform a specific task, then turn it off again for a month, so it's not left connected. I need a remote desktop that will load a client on start up and allow me to log in with no input/password from them and share the desktop so they can watch what I do. Quoted: Quoted: If you leave their XP computer connected to the Internet, you're crazy. I'm serious. You're getting off point. This is not the time for a security discussion. They only turn on the PC to perform a specific task, then turn it off again for a month, so it's not left connected. I need a remote desktop that will load a client on start up and allow me to log in with no input/password from them and share the desktop so they can watch what I do. This is a good thing too, because you're going to be spending a lot of time figuring out why their XP machine keeps getting hacked every time they get online.
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Quoted:
You're getting off point. This is not the time for a security discussion. They only turn on the PC to perform a specific task, then turn it off again for a month, so it's not left connected. I need a remote desktop that will load a client on start up and allow me to log in with no input/password from them and share the desktop so they can watch what I do. Quoted:
Quoted:
If you leave their XP computer connected to the Internet, you're crazy. I'm serious. You're getting off point. This is not the time for a security discussion. They only turn on the PC to perform a specific task, then turn it off again for a month, so it's not left connected. I need a remote desktop that will load a client on start up and allow me to log in with no input/password from them and share the desktop so they can watch what I do. An XP box........to do bank account stuff? Do you want their account details stolen? |
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Quoted:
You're getting off point. This is not the time for a security discussion. They only turn on the PC to perform a specific task, then turn it off again for a month, so it's not left connected. I need a remote desktop that will load a client on start up and allow me to log in with no input/password from them and share the desktop so they can watch what I do. Quoted:
Quoted:
If you leave their XP computer connected to the Internet, you're crazy. I'm serious. You're getting off point. This is not the time for a security discussion. They only turn on the PC to perform a specific task, then turn it off again for a month, so it's not left connected. I need a remote desktop that will load a client on start up and allow me to log in with no input/password from them and share the desktop so they can watch what I do. Teamviewer is what you seek now tha LogMeIn is charging for theirs. |
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An XP box........to do bank account stuff? Do you want their account details stolen? Quoted:
Quoted:
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If you leave their XP computer connected to the Internet, you're crazy. I'm serious. You're getting off point. This is not the time for a security discussion. They only turn on the PC to perform a specific task, then turn it off again for a month, so it's not left connected. I need a remote desktop that will load a client on start up and allow me to log in with no input/password from them and share the desktop so they can watch what I do. An XP box........to do bank account stuff? Do you want their account details stolen? This. OP needs to get his act together or his parents are going to be left penniless. |
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Whoa whoa whoa. I just reread the OP and saw you mentioned bank account. You're fucking retarded if you keep using XP and accessing a bank account. It doesn't matter if it's been turned off every second in between, that's not how things work. You are guaranteed to have them robbed. |
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If they only do a couple simple tasks, it'd be just as easy to have them use Win 7 or 8, Mac, or Linux.
Sounds like all they actually need is a terminal that opens up a web browser. __________________________________________________________________ Cross-platform electronic bound book (original thread). PGP public key. «nolite confidere in principibus, in filiis hominum quibus non est salus» |
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FPNI Chokey was correct and TeamViewer worked. I really didn't want to set it up for unattended remote access. As was pointed out, XP has enough security holes already without adding more. So I have to get him to start TeamViewer running and tell me the 4 digit password so I can log in. And there's a nag pop-up when you log off trying to get you to pay for a subscription. But it works well and it's free. I'm going to be doing a lot less driving up to the folks house thanks to this. BTW, I tried it with an XP desktop and a Win7 laptop and everything worked fine. I may try it with my Win8 tablet, but that's only 8" and really can't see shit on that little fucking thing. They also support iPhones and Androids, but fuck that. I fucking hate iPhones, iPads, and tablets. Just like the shit audio, people gladly accept tiny shit video. |