What is the Best Remote Access Software

Hi all,

I need help to find the best free remote access software. A co-worker of mine isn’t computer friendly, all he knows how to do is follow directions or go on the internet. He was telling me about pop-up problems (spyware/malware) and the computer being very slow (junk software/viruses), so I told him if I could take a look at the computer I can probably fix all his problems. The problem is he can’t bring it out of his home, he doesn’t have a car and takes the bus to work (I would pick the computer up from him but he lives very very far away). I then had the idea of remotely accessing his computer to fix it up for him; this is where this post comes in. What is the best free Remote access software currently, and is easy to use.

I used to use AccessRemotePc when it was free several years ago, and I’ve used Windows messenger in the past. I was just wondering if there are any alternatives that are better now and that will work in Vista.

His computer is a cheap Dell (biggest problem, lol) with Windows Vista Home.


Thanks all.

 

LogMeIn (free version) he installs it, gives you his LMI user/pass (you two can set that up together) and then you can look at the PC from where you are.

 

+1 to LogMeIn..I've used it for an ocassion like this myself.

 

Yeah LogMeIn is the easiest. I had my sister install it so that I could fix her computer when she downloads crap that she shouldn't. VNC would be another option since Vista Home Basic doesn't have remote desktop ability.

 

Logmein has good reviews.

 

Logmein-Hands down

 

Thanks all for the replies. I’ve tried out logmein and it’s just what I needed, has everything I could need. Thanks All!!!

 

With LogMeIn can files be manipulated on the host machine? I.e., copied, moved, deleted etc.?

 

Try TeamViewer also

 

Yep, and you can access them via the web(even if your not controlling the machine atm).

 

I was wondering if with LogMeIn free, or other access remote programs, can I turn on the computer remotely. I remember seeing stuff in my bios about "wake up" from the LAN port. If I can do this, is this safe. How secure is it in case my computer or the one to be accessed gets a virus or someone breaches the firewall?

 

Is this true of the free version as well?

 

Yes, the free version just doesn't allow for file transfer, remote printing, remote sound, and a few other things. You can still control it.

 

Thanks for the suggestions and info. Since I'm interested in file transfer as well as the other capabilities, I've downloaded TeamView. Gonna give it a try this evening. LogMeIn DOES look good though. I think I would need the pro version for what I need though. Price doesn't seem bad, actually, depending on the uses for which one intends it.

 

Not a good idea to mention such things here.

 

As people have said LogMeIn Hamachi is good. I have always used it in conjunction with UltraVNC though, so give it a shot, you may like it.

I find it to not have good enough quality and speed, maybe if you have a fast connection or are limited on time/just wanna connect and get the job done then it's fine.

Illegal software discussion is not allowed on NotebookReview Forums, don't mention such things in the future or your posts will be delete/edited and infractions/ban may be given.

 

Wake on LAN or WOL, as it's called, is perfectly safe. Viral infections and breached firewalls are no more likely, and no more dangerous, with WOL enabled than without.

Basically, what WOL does, when it's enabled, is this: your ethernet card (I don't know if this works with wireless cards, yet - I don't believe it does, though) is kept in a very low state of power, even when the rest of the system is powered down, and the card continues to receive signals from off the network. What the card is doing is "listening" for a particular data packet called a "magic packet" (I didn't make this up, the folks who invented this stuff did) which is generally a broadcast packet that contains the MAC address of the ethernet card repeated 16 times.

Once that packet is spotted, it causes the ethernet card to send a signal into the motherboard that starts the computer up just as if you had pushed the power button with your finger.

 

+1 with UltraVNC

See all other programs here

 

Is the built in remote desktop in Vista any good or does it have trouble with firewalls like the MSN remote assistance tool?

 

If the remote OS has remote desktop ability (XP Pro, Vista Business/Ultimate) then Remote Desktop is what you want to use. As long as port 3389 is visible then it will work fine.

 

I've used LogMeIn and agree that it's pretty good. Don't forget that Windows already has a feature called "Remote Assistance" built right in! I've only tried it on computers in my own network, so I'm a bit unsure of how it gets along with other PC's on different connections.

 

So, if I use LogMeIn, I install the client program on both my desktop and laptop or just the desktop? (controlling with my laptop)

Either way, wouldn't someone need to be at my desktop to allow it to be remote controlled?

edit: could one remote control a computer to remote control another computer?

 

Well, I know that will happen if you use it in conjunction with UltraVNC but I'm not sure about by itself. I'm pretty sure you can control multiple desktops but that might suck your bandwidth dry and cause lag. It's all virtual but real on the actual desktop so you can delete a file there and it's really gone, you can also take control of an other PC using it but it will most likely suck you dry unless you have amazing bandwidth.

About someone needing to be there, initially yes, but afterwards you shouldn't need them. I have experienced that they need to enter the password on ever restart if they have one though.

 

OK...I just tried LogMeIn; pretty nifty.

Apparently, the logmein client starts on the remote controlled desktop automatically upon startup and it actually doesn't need any confirmation to control it. I find that pretty security-risky. I even configured preferences for the "interactive user" to have the choice to either allow or disallow me controlling the desktop. I'll mess with it more in the morning.

 

Anyone have an answer for this?

 

Also, is there any way to access my desktop computer from my laptop without having to turn on my desktop first? It seems like the original computer needs to be on so the LogMeIn is activated before the second computer can remote access it.

 

Only the desktop.
But in Firefox (like I do), you have to install the plugin. It will ask you to install when you try to access your desktop with your notebook.

 

I'm still trying to figure out how I can prompt the user for permission to remote control their pc... :\

 

Hmmm, I’m still very confused with how to work with and use WOL. I can't seem to remotely start any of my computers (Lan/Wan or Internet).

I've been reading on the internet on this post ( http://www.raymond.cc/blog/archives/2007/10/21/how-to-remotely-turn-on-computer-from-lan-and-wan/).

There are several programs to use to turn a computer remotely on, I’ve set the port forwarding to port 9 on my desired computers, I’ve got the Mac-address, but I’m not sure about which ip address is the right one(i've tried several).

Anyone that has experience with remotely turning a computer on I am very interesting in hearing your tactics.

 

Well just to clear up a few things...u just need to install LogMeIn on the Remote computer. Then u access it via the web using log-in credentials...first you'll log in via an e-mail addr. and password then connect to the computer u want by selecting it and entering the local log-in credentials for the said Remote computer.

From what I know...yes the Remote computer has to be "on" in order to connect to it...

@ Arkit...if u don't want LogMeIn to start up everytime Windows starts...just disable it in one of two ways...either go into Services and disable it or Start-->Run and type msconfig (for XP) and take out the check for LogMeIn, under the startup and services sections.

From what I know there isn't really any way to "prompt" the user for remote control..other than calling them or something

@ danjohnson I know that u can trigger a WOL on PCs on ur local network that are turned off, as i've done it before using my Linksys router...so this means that if ur going to want to do this remotely u will need to be able to connect to ur local Router remotely (IF it has the WOL functionality) to activate this feature when in a remote location. Again..my Linksys router claims it can be accessed remotely but i've never tested it out.

So then this WOL thing would only work if the local Router supports it and also supports being accessible remotely...or if there is some other neat program out there that can wake up the machine remotely....