Can I use my home pc from a remote location?

I don't want to use pcanywhere or subscribe to a service. Isn't there someway to use Windows XP's remote desktop feature to login to my computer from a friend's house or a hotel and use it?

Thanks!

 

Hi baltman

Yes and No.....
Yes if there is someone at your house that can accept the required invitation / request to link.
No, if there is no one present at the house computer to acknowledge the request to link. You can view this M$ WebCast, a 48 minute "corporate" discussion of the subject. I was half way through when I had a phone call come in... but what I seen was interesting.

 

Hi baltman

VNC (Virtual Network Computing) an on going, open source "remote control" software orginally created at AT&T. Never used the program, appears to be very robust software. Has a variety of remote view options and controls. Along with being free .... "It is small and simple. The Windows viewer, for example, is about 150K in size and can be run directly from a floppy. The entire Java viewer is substantially less than 100K and takes less time to download than the images on some web pages ". Another nice feature, it is fully cross-platform.

 

but can i use this from a computer when the computer i want to access is not on the same network? i.e. if i'm out of town and in a hotel, can i use my home computer remotely with VNC?

 

See Getting Started with VNC .....
"VNC consists of two components. A server, which runs on the computer you want to remotely access, and a viewer, which runs on the computer you are sitting in front of ". You would install the "server" side of the program on your home computer and have the program active before you leave the house.

To create the link beween the two points....
"VNC software requires a TCP/IP connection between the server and the viewer. This is the standard networking protocol on LANs, WANs, broadband and dialup ISP. "

 

Definatley VNC is the way to go. As long as your home pc has an ip address accesible over the internet (or you can forward packets from your modem/router via virtual servers) you can use any port you want to access your home pc.

 

Following on to what I just wrote, it has two types:

1. Using the VNC viewer software to open the connection.

or

2. You can set up a kind of web server service on your home pc and log onto it through your web browser. It allows you to be anyware in the world, use your home pc and not require any additional software to be installed.

 

I have Comcast cable internet. What if my IP keeps changing? Yesterday it was XX.XX.XXX.250 and now it's XX.XX.XXX.169.

Also, I've installed VNC but what are the specific steps to setting up the connection that I want? I have the new beta 4.0. I've used 3.3 at work but only to access another computer on the network. I don't understand how to use 4.0.

 

Hi baltman

You have a number of choices to acquire a static IP or the ability to resolve a dynamic IP....
FIrst.. call Com.cast, what do they offer.... free and/or fee based.
2nd... Many commercial companys will do this for a fee.
3rd... Can this be done free, check this Google search... FREE dynamic DNS service
One of the choices from the above Google search page.link offering free service

 

Yes, you will need to resolve the dynamic ip issue. Further to that, to set up VNC as a service (which you will need to do), the link below shows the registry changes you need to make to get it set up properly.

http://www.realvnc.com/winvnc.html#2

 

have you tried using the Remote Desktop package in Windows XP (comes as standard with XP pro). We've tested it for some staff members but it needs a MINIMUM of ISDN (dual channel if poss) - broadband would be best.

the added benefit of remote desktop is that you don't need someone at the other end to let you in.