Replace GoToMyPC with Remote Desktop?

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I use and love GoToMyPC, but it does have a cost. Can I switch to Windows Remote Desktop if both computers are running Windows 7 Professional?

My concern relates to the IP address. My home network does have a static IP address, but that’s the public IP address. There are multiple PCs in the house that get local LAN IP addresses from DHCP on our FiOS router.

So the end IP address of the host computer may not be static even though our FiOS router is.

Can Remote Desktop still be set up to work? And can I set it up to automatically start on reboot? And if I can, will it let me connect if I have to reboot the host PC remotely and no one’s there at log in to the host?

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Configure your router to route the port for RDP (the default port is 3389) to the PC. If you want to be able to connect to multiple PCs at home use a different port number such as 13389 for the 1st PC, 23389 for the 2nd or something similar so you remember which port goes to which PC. Once again configure the router to route traffic for the specific port to the appropriate PC. If the PCs at home are the servers there is no reason to have anything start on reboot. Just make sure each PC is configured to allow remote desktop.

Joe

--Joe

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Thanks, Joe. I’ll try your suggestion. I set the custom port to TCP (alternate choice was UDP) is that right?

The reason I asked about reboot is that I have had occasion to have the home computer reboot while I’m off-site — perhaps a Windows update did it automatically or I had to tell it to reboot from my remote. When it comes back up, I need to be able to re-connect the remote connection.

GoToMyPC handles that beautifully.

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Give Team Viewer a look see. I sure like it!:cheers:

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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I’ve use TCP. You should be able to re-connect after a re-boot.

Joe

--Joe

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I second suggestion of RetiredGeek. I have used TeamViewer for some time and am able to help distant relatives using this free program. Indeed, if all else fails give it a look.

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Re: Team Viewer — thanks for that suggestion, both of you. I haven’t tried it yet, under the assumption that someone needs to be at the other end to enter or relay a session code. Is that correct? For my purpose, I’m accessing an unmanned computer.

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Re: Team Viewer — thanks for that suggestion, both of you. I haven’t tried it yet, under the assumption that someone needs to be at the other end to enter or relay a session code. Is that correct? For my purpose, I’m accessing an unmanned computer.

You just set it up for UnManned Access using link on main screen.:cheers:

Here’s the Team Viewer Manual.

May the Forces of good computing be with you!

RG

PowerShell & VBA Rule!
Computer Specs

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Once RDC is set up on the host, how do I identify that computer from the remote PC?

I tried using its static IP address, then the [static IP address]/[computername] without success.

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If you have the internal home network routing setup correctly you should just need the IP address and the port number – static IP address:port number.

Joe

--Joe

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I use Logmein free. Its simple to setup and works fine after client reboot. You just have to wait for the target system to reboot and then relog in. I have have 15 different computers I provide remote support for setup with logmein and have logged into multiple computers at the same time using different browsers.

Jerry

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GoSupportNow has both remote access and remote support. Both allow you to do unattended support and swtich screen within the session. It also works fine after remote reboot.

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If you install Windows Live Mesh, you will be able to remote to a computer running it without any configuration, whether it is behind a router or not and without anyone needing to be on the other side. Works pretty well.

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