Remote Working with Go To My PC

Remote Working with Go To My PC

Didn't find your answer?

I started using Go To My PC a few months ago at a cost of 20USD per month (working in UK) and see from a previous post that others get it cheaper and there is a similar product Log Me In.

However my real question is about the free alternative of using Windows (XP) Remote Desktop.  Does it allow you to work in the same way?  And what are the comparative security issues?

Thanks

Tim

Replies (10)

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By leestevens
05th May 2010 14:38

A couple of points

Not a definitive answer, just a couple of issues that I have come across using RDP.

a) The server machine (the one you want to connect to) has to be running XP Professional (not Home) edition.  Same goes with Vista and Windows 7 (RDP is not available in Home versions)

b) As far as I can make out, you cannot map a drive across the connection.

Apart from that RDP is, in my opinion, better than LogMeIn and another alternative TeamViewer - both of which I have used. 

Unfortunately, not having used it, I cannot comment on Go To My PC - which was the original point of your question.

 

 

 

 

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By carnmores
05th May 2010 23:08

RDP

can you print remotely

is there an efficient file transfer system

 

logme in is the business

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By [email protected]
07th May 2010 23:05

It depends...

It would all depend entirely what you want to achieve. RDP is free and the technical requirements side of it has been covered above. It is actually very good and reliable. I use it every day and it suits me fine. Maybe you could let us know what exactly you want to achieve with the software?

Unless you have a static IP address you would have to seek to use the services of DynDNS.com or similar to use RDP as unless you are static your IP number will change. If and when it changes you are stumped.

Regards,

Stefan

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By paul.k2
19th May 2010 07:52

General Comments

Hi Tim,

My colleagues and I use a variety of tools for remote support.

In a network environment where we control security we will quite often use RDP. Its fine, but I rarely if ever try to print. Some of our clients, leave their office PCs on so they can continue to work from home. However, in those cases we have Static IPs and have created secure connections.  You would have to assess the risks to your system and if you don't want to get into setting up security as described , or do not have access to someone who can assist you, you might be better with a commercial option.

I have used Teamviewr, but like the other VNC products, it must be installed and running in the background. I have a suspicion that Teamviewer might effect underlying performance. I had a client using Teamviewer recently and when I dissabled it, there seemed to be an improvement, but the tests were not conclusive.

The other tools such as LogMeIn and GoTo can be installed permanently, but are also designed to be installed when they are needed. This means you have a tool that you can use to access your own PC and that of a clients. Also you can use it from anywhere, but there is a cost.

We have been using a remote support tool for some tjime now that also has an 'Always On' feature such as GoTo. I do not use the Always On, but it might be worth a try. It also has a Group Meeting facility all within the price. I will get the address later and post it for you. About 300 Euros pa or you can buy a certain amount of time.

 

Paul Kelly

www.kellysolutions.co.uk

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By paul.k2
19th May 2010 14:46

Link to ISL

Hi Tim,

Here is the link I promised you earlier.

https://www.islonline.com/account/register/register.php?rid=543383

 

Paul Kelly

www.kellysolutions.co.uk

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By retro11
20th May 2010 11:58

Hamachi VPN

We use RDC for our remote connections but through Hamachi (I think it's free - from the same people that do log me in) which creates an easy to setup VPN between the 2 computers. 

Hamachi should avoid the issue of having static IP and will let you map drives to your local machine.  Printing has never been a problem either.

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By peteri
20th May 2010 12:05

RDP thoughts

LogMeIn and GotoMyPC both solve the big problems that standard windows remote desktop has with traversing firewalls. If you setup a VPN between your home PC and your office this isn't an issue and RDP works pretty well. The other option if you're just trying to do support is to use the "remote assistance" option in Vista/Windows 7 but it really stinks performance wise.

GotoMyPC is a Citrix product and Citrix servers use a variant of RDP with more aggressive compression than the standard Microsoft product so you may find performance is slightly better.

To sort out printers etc, in the advanced options of a RDP connection you get additional options as to which devices you want share from one end to another. If you enable cut and paste you also need to enable sharing of disk drives to copy files from one machine to another (this is on the local resources tab under the "more" button).

 

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By MariaJones
18th Aug 2010 00:11

Try RHUB's TurboMeeting

RHUB's TurboMeeting lets you do remote support and remote access to Macs and PCs.  They solved the firewall traversal issues and work with all the top antivirus programs. RHUB lets you reboot a system and lets you access the login screen.  It handles the UAC dialogs.  And RHUB lets you do Remote Printing.  RHUB doesn't use IP addresses, so you don't have to worry about them changing.

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By dannybanes
01st Apr 2011 11:04

Yes

Remote Desktop is a good alternative (and a free one) to GoToMyPc. There are a couple things worth mentioning though:

1 - GoToMyPc allows you to access your computer from any machine with a web browser, RD on the other hand requires the RD client (which all windows machines have, but Linux dont as standard)

2 - You have to ensure your firewall will allow the Remote Desktop traffic through (port 3389 i believe). This is something you don't have to worry about with GoToMyPc.

I did read in a GoToMyPc review that it was now £5.99 / month but I guess that could have changed.

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By janiceD
30th May 2011 07:54

work remotely

In spite of the land mines set by corporate authority in need of an ego boost, many people still have to work for income. Beginning your own business kicks managers to the curb, but the trade-off is that you need to be more than productive - you need to be super-productive. What's left over for some workers who want to be productive but don't care for antiquated workplace models is working remotely. Hammering out the daily telecommute can benefit both the employer and the employee. Here is the proof:  Working from home benefits employees and employers, personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog.

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