Best way to setup my laptop to always act as a client to my desktoP?

[tracerit]

I built my dad a desktop computer but now he wants a computer downstairs to use while babysitting. I don't want him to have two different computers, saving things all over teh place. So I'd like to have the laptop always log in an he'll remotely be using his desktop from the laptop. Right now I'm using Teamviewer, but it requires him to use Teamviewer.

Is there a way to just log into the account on the laptop and it'll automatically remotely log into his desktop PC?

 

[JackMDS]

So instead of using a simple Data Sync App or use One Drive and the like on line, you want to switch to a real "Horror show".

https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-sync-your-data-across-multiple-devices-2378018

 

[Rifter]

If the laptop is wired to the desktop this is still a bad idea. If you were planning on attempting this over a Wifi connection its not just a bad idea its horrible.

 

[sdifox]

Setup a shared drive on the pc, map to drive letter on laptop. have him save all files to that drive from the laptop

 

[tracerit]

thanks for the criticism haha. I just tried it and it is horrible! I'll look into having a synced drive and/or some sort of file syncing. My main reason for remotely logging is in to avoid having to buy a second license for his apps and reconfiguring settings to match the desktop.

I'm also looking into maybe getting a NAS for family backup, but may just use my computer to act as the backup server since it's always on.

 

[QuietDad]

You can always look at throwing Windows Server on a spare PC, setting up the house with a domaim instead of a workgroup and set up a userid for him on it with a roaming profile and put his PC and laptop on that network. That way wherever he signs in he'll see and use the same thing on the server. The ONLY options you reall have is setting up a domain with roaming profiles, remote access with RDP or Teamviewer(and others) and shared acess between then either mapping drives or something like One Drive

 

[mxnerd]

Domain requires Windows Pro and above installed on client PCs. Most home users don't have it.

Windows Server alone won't make the magic happen.

Either shared folder mapped as a drive or NAS (Synology recommended) are good alternatives.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

If you are only using the laptop at home, try NoMachine. It's faster than TeamViewer. You can tweak the settings for better quality if your network is fast enough.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

With NoMachine, connection files are automatically created in your Documents/NoMachine folder. Copy the connection file to the Startup folder on the laptop and it should automatically connect at login. Be sure to use a static IP on the desktop.