Any free PC to PC software?

Basically my Mother needs a program to connect to her work computer from home to do work at home rather than staying late at the office every night.

Everyone I can think of charges you, which is fine. But I would rather not pay for one if there is a free version out there.

I don't have all the details, but I assume she will need folder access, printing, Microsoft Works, etc etc.

So are there any free versions, or is it all pay-to-use?

 

If her machine can be either directly addressed via a fully routable IP address (doubtful) or can be addressed by name via a VPN connection to her network at the office, she could use Microsoft's own "Remote Desktop Connection" which is built in to most non-home editions of Windows.

I have VPN connection to my office network and can connect to my desktop machine, using its network machine name.

Gary

 

I don't know her setup at work, but I think she has just basic Windows Vista Home Basic at work, and she has the same at home.

Don't you need Vista Ultimate on the client computer to use the Remote Desktop?

 

I don't think so. I am pretty sure the client can run on any version. However on the host it will need to be a pro version. (Although I seem to remember references to a hack that will allow it to run on Home.)

Gary

 

Ok, after some searching I did find a hack to allow the Remote control on Vista Home.

Obviously I need to test that both computers are working at the same time, so I will be setting up the host computer, and then the client computer, so they will both be on the same network.

Would I have any problems using the same network when I set them both up? Say for instance it works fine on the same connection (they can connect), but will not work when the client computer logs in from a different connection.

 

Well to add a little more information, apparently she has Windows XP (not sure what version) at work.

Does Windows XP have Remote Access on every version? Or only certain versions? If not, is there a hack the same as Vista Home?
(Edit: Never mind, I found that yes, there is a hack)

And will Vista be able to connect to XP, or do they need to be the same OS?

 

The host and client OS can be different. There is no issue with that. But the problem you will face is connectivity between the home machine and the office one.

The client app needs to know the IP address of the office machine. If the office machine is behind a router it will have a non internet routable IP address. I.E. an address that can only be accessed from a machine BEHIND the router on the local LAN but not from the WAN (internet).

That is the point of a VPN. It would allow the client machine to appear as if it IS behind the router and part of the local office LAN.

Gary

 

teamviewer may be the way to go

 

https://secure.logmein.com/US/products/free/

 

I like Realvnc. Great little program thats really easy to use.

 

better check with the support people at the office before setting up Mom with a private vpn.

In some companies, that kind of messing around gets people fired.

 

+1

TeamViewer - Free Remote Access and Remote Desktop Sharing over the Internet

 

I use teamviewer.

Logmein also offers file transfer, but I think you have to pay for it. Its offered for free on the non commercial version of teamviewer.

Another option for file transfer (and syncing) would be Dropbox.

 

well Dropbox should work fine for what she needs.... just save stuff in the drop box folder and boom! it will appear on the other machine... you get 2gb for free...

The other option you could do is set up a ftp server on the home machine and useing a built in windows option make it appear like a networked drive

 

The new version of Windows Live Essentials has the RTW version of Live Mesh that allows Remote Connections and it is free...

 

You *need* to talk with the company about doing this. Anything that allows the company's information (remote access transmits a visual of whatever you are working on) to go through the web has to be cleared by the right people.

Usually that means that the company has a VPN which you can use to access work computers offsite.

Not getting approval is equal to willingly putting the company at risk and can lead to a quick termination.

 

Yes most large companies require you to use a VPN or secure way of accessing the office network. Its a big security concern so your mum might wanna talk to the IT admins first.

If its a small company and working with non sensitive information then teamviewer is probably the easiest way to go. No need to install or forward ports.

I use Cisco VPN and just remote desktop and map my office shares.

 

team viewer for ease of use

 

Sorry I didn't mention it earlier, but the company is quite small, and my Aunt is the co-owner of the company. It's a small Nurse Staffing Agency, so there is no real IT department, and my Mom is usually the one in charge (if not in charge, then close to it).

She hasn't mentioned anything recently, but I will see what is what.