Remote Desktop

[mason85]

Ok, here's the situation. I live in Missouri. My dad lives in Florida. He's not a computer guy, at all. I want to be able to connect to his machine from mine. I've tried using Remote Desktop, but I can't get it to work. We both just got DSL (with different ISPs), so I don't know what kind of restrictions they put on our connections. I can't even ping his machine (and yes, firewalls were disabled). So I'm wondering, what's the best way to accomplish what I'm trying to do here?

We both have DSL connections and we're both running Win XP Pro. We're both running McAfee Firewalls. Both firewalls were disabled to try this, though.

Thanks in advance for any advice. And if you need more info, I'll do my best to supply it.

 

[JackMDS]

To connect for type of activity?

 

[mason85]

I need to be able to do stuff like install programs and transfer files.

 

[mason85]

Hmm, I read through some of the other threads on Remote Desktop. It looks like I need to forward a port. But neither of us have a router at the moment. We both have our modems connected directly to our machines. Am I headed in the right direction here?

 

[skyking]

instead of remote desktop, try using remote assistance with MSN messenger.
You don't need a remote operator set up in users and groups to do this.

 

[JackMDS]

An other solution is to install UltraVNC.

Your father will have to install one simple program and type one time password and open one port, and he will be set.

Any time you want to connect him only has to double click on the icon.

Download this:

Ultr@VNC 1.0.0 RC 11d.

What the "heck" is Ultr@VNC?

Ultr@VNC is an Excellent Fast & Free Remote Control, and file transfer program.

If you want to control a computer through the LAN, or and through the Internet it is the thing to use.

The program consists of one file; during installation it would ask whether you want to install the Server or the Viewer.

Install the Server on the Computer that should be Controlled. I.e. your dad computer.

During installations check Yes to the Hook Options.

Once installed leave the default as is just change the Password.

Open port 5900 in the Router for the VNC server computer. If there is software Firewall or any other TCP/IP interceptor open port 5900 as well.

Install the Viewer on the Controlling Computer. Open Port 5900 through the system (as you did with the server).

Start the Viewer. Type your dad?s IP click Connect. If connected the Password Box will popup type the password and enjoy.

Took me much more time to write this than it takes to install and set the whole thing.

 

[Kadarin]

The solutions suggested don't address the problem of why Remote Desktop isn't working in the first place.

I was doing some fiddling at work last week with the Remote Desktop setup in Windows 2003 Server, and it turns out not only did I have to create users/groups with the appropriate permissions to remotely log in, I had to go to an entirely different, unrelated configuration screen to globally allow remote users to connect. Very counterintuitive.

If I recall correctly, after messing around with remote desktop configuration and user/group permission, I right-clicked on My Computer and selected Properties. Somewhere under there was the checkbox for the global setting to allow remote users to log in.

If you are not using a firewall (for Pete's sake, why not?!), port forwarding is not an issue.

 

[mason85]

I had remote desktop enabled on the host PC. Is the DSL modem automatically blocking any ports? That's the kind of stuff I don't know. I went through all of Microsofts help files and those didn't help. Both firewalls were disabled when I had this problem, too.

 

[Winchester]

If you have a router you will have to open the ports, but a normal DSL modem shouldnt be blocking any.

However, there have been several ISPs blocking certain ports because of viruses etc.

 

[skyking]

modems do not block ports. If it is a modem/NAT device, then that might be your issue. What do you get at a command prompt, ipconfig /all
? what does he get?
Have you tried a remote assistance session with messenger? The big benefit is he will be watching everything you do, you can talk to him on the phone while you do it, and he will slowly learn a few things that way. If you go slow, and take a bit of time to explain what and why, some of that stuff he will end up doing for himself. If you go the remote user way, he learns nothing, and you will end up doing this forever.

 

[mason85]

I guess I'll ask my ISP if they're blocking any ports. It's possible. They're blocking any email with "test" in the subject right now (for that MyDoom virus, I think). I don't think we both just have plain DSL modems, not NAT devices. Well, I'm sure mine is just a modem.

I haven't tried remote assistance. My dad doesn't want to learn anything, really. Otherwise, I already would have shown him. Maybe I'll try it anyway.

 

[classy]

Remote desktop needs certain services running. Go into control panel >adminstrative tools>services. Make sure Terminal services and Remote Desktop help manager are running. Also if you can't ping his machine a firewall is running somewhere. Make sure he doesn't have the XP firewall running which by default blocks ping and remote desktop. Check that in the properties of the network card of the advanced tab. If its checked uncheck it or go into settings and check allow remote desktop and then click on the ICMP tab and check allow incoming echo request. Remote desktop works and works well just like your sitting at the machine . Its just some settings not right somewhere. Also I forgot to add you have to have a account on his machine with a password with that account allowed to connect remotely. All thats on the remote tab of system properties.

 

[mason85]

Ahh, I think that's probably it. I totally forgot about XPs firewall. I have a feeling that's probably running.

 

[mason85]

I also found out that both of our ISPs are blocking "ping" and "tracert". My ISP is Centurytel and his is Earthlink.

 

[skyking]

Originally posted by: mason85
I also found out that both of our ISPs are blocking "ping" and "tracert". My ISP is Centurytel and his is Earthlink.

Yes, that is the case most everywhere now. It won't affect your remote session, and I have never seen an ISP block anything other than common server protocols, like 110/25/21/135.

 

[ojai00]

When you're connecting to his computer, make sure you have his IP correct. The address in the Remote connection field should be xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:3389. The port that Remote Desktop listens on is 3389. When you connect through Remote Desktop, you're going to have complete control of his computer and he won't be able to see what you're doing because he'll be logged out. As mentioned earlier, Remote Assistance seems to be a much better way to go about doing what you want to do. Hope this helps.

 

[scrotus]

yep with RA, he can actually see what you are doing so he can learn to do it himself. Try RA thru MSM as suggested. Also, did you try logging into his machine using his login/password? You don't have to have a login setup for yourself. But, you need to make sure that his system is allowing remote connections.

Control Panel>System>Remote Tab
Enable Allow Remote Assistance
Enable Remote Control

One of the 2 should work for you.
Disable INternet Firewall in your TCP/IP properties
Even though it shouldn't be blocking it anyway.

Also, make sure his account is setup with a password. I've never tried it, but I doubt RD will work without having a login/password setup.

 

[skyking]

no, it will not work without that either.