Slightly OT: remote access & control for XP

Apologies that this is slightly off-topic, but there are some wise heads
here...

I'm looking for some freeware that will enable me to take control of a
colleague's PC from my desktop (he has extremely poor sight and wants
someone to do some occasional PC housekeeping for him). Is there a reliable
application that is extremely easy to install and use?

Ta muchly

"Henry Ross" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)
> Apologies that this is slightly off-topic, but there are some wise
> heads here...
>
> I'm looking for some freeware that will enable me to take control of a
> colleague's PC from my desktop (he has extremely poor sight and wants
> someone to do some occasional PC housekeeping for him). Is there a
> reliable application that is extremely easy to install and use?
>
> Ta muchly

Logmein free - www.logmein.com

http://showmypc.com/

"Henry Ross" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Apologies that this is slightly off-topic, but there are some wise heads
> here...
>
> I'm looking for some freeware that will enable me to take control of a
> colleague's PC from my desktop (he has extremely poor sight and wants
> someone to do some occasional PC housekeeping for him). Is there a
> reliable application that is extremely easy to install and use?
>
> Ta muchly

Windows XP has Remote Assistance built in.

Get your colleague to access it via his PC's Help and Support Centre -
(Click on Start, then Help and Support, then Invite a friend to connect to
your computer with Remote Assistance)

Steve.

"Henry Ross" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)
: : Apologies that this is slightly off-topic, but there
: : are some wise heads here...
: :
: : I'm looking for some freeware that will enable me to
: : take control of a colleague's PC from my desktop (he
: : has extremely poor sight and wants someone to do some
: : occasional PC housekeeping for him). Is there a
: : reliable application that is extremely easy to install
: : and use?
: :
: : Ta muchly

If you're using XP Pro, it's built in - look under Help & Support for
Remote Access.

Ivor

"steveybar" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)
: : "Henry Ross" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
: : news:(E-Mail Removed)...
: : : Apologies that this is slightly off-topic, but there
: : : are some wise heads here...
: : :
: : : I'm looking for some freeware that will enable me to
: : : take control of a colleague's PC from my desktop (he
: : : has extremely poor sight and wants someone to do some
: : : occasional PC housekeeping for him). Is there a
: : : reliable application that is extremely easy to
: : : install and use?
: : :
: : : Ta muchly
: :
: : Windows XP has Remote Assistance built in.

Only XP Pro, not the Home version.

Ivor

"Henry Ross" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Apologies that this is slightly off-topic, but there are some wise heads
> here...
>
> I'm looking for some freeware that will enable me to take control of a
> colleague's PC from my desktop (he has extremely poor sight and wants
> someone to do some occasional PC housekeeping for him). Is there a
> reliable application that is extremely easy to install and use?
>
> Ta muchly

VNC from http://www.realvnc.com/ Note that the free version doesn't work
with Vista.

I use it for controlling W2k, XP Home and XP Pro computers, as well as
servers. You and the remote user see the same screen.

Clearly you need a route to your colleaques PC - are they both on the same
network? If they are at different locations on different networks you need
to give us more details so we can explain the best way to set up the
necessary communications.

--
Graham J

On Fri, 14 Dec 2007 21:08:40 -0000, Henry Ross <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>Apologies that this is slightly off-topic, but there are some wise heads
>here...
>
>I'm looking for some freeware that will enable me to take control of a
>colleague's PC from my desktop (he has extremely poor sight and wants
>someone to do some occasional PC housekeeping for him). Is there a reliable
>application that is extremely easy to install and use?

UltraVNC - http://www.uvnc.com/
Regular VNC clients can use it too.

--
-- Michael "Soruk" McConnell Eridani Star System
MailStripper - http://www.MailStripper.eu/ - SMTP spam filter
Second Number - http://secondnumber.matrixnetwork.co.uk/

Graham J wrote:
> VNC from http://www.realvnc.com/ Note that the free version doesn't work
> with Vista.

I'm curious. Is there a valid technical reason why the free version
won't work with Vista (Note that uvnc apparently does), or is it a
license thing.

I think there are three possibilities:
1. RealVNC want to sell more licenses and reduce the number of free
versions out there
2. There is some DRM-fu in vista that prevents unsigned software from
accessing the API's necessary to copy the screen, incase they
inadvertantly allow someone to glimpse copyrighted material without
paying the RIAA/MPAA
3. Vista is just horribly broken and they had to re-engineer all of
RealVNC into a new product that does not have any GPL components in it

As I recall, Microsoft stated with XP that a valid windows XP license is
required to _display_ an XP desktop on another computer (i.e. that
computer must be licensed for XP). Perhaps with the DRM-crippled
PITAware that is vista has some means of enforcing that clause which XP
neglected to do?

Jim

"Ivor Jones" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>
> "steveybar" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed) : : "Henry Ross" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote in message
> : : news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> : : : Apologies that this is slightly off-topic, but there
> : : : are some wise heads here...
> : : : : : : I'm looking for some freeware that will enable me to
> : : : take control of a colleague's PC from my desktop (he
> : : : has extremely poor sight and wants someone to do some
> : : : occasional PC housekeeping for him). Is there a
> : : : reliable application that is extremely easy to
> : : : install and use? : : : : : : Ta muchly
> : : : : Windows XP has Remote Assistance built in.
>
> Only XP Pro, not the Home version.


I'm usibg XP Home (Version 2002) & RA is included.

--
Joe Lee