Remotely Administering Win XP home?

eSDee · 01-30-2003, 07:22 PM

Hey all, I have a few users here that are on WinXP Home edition PC's, that I would like to administer remotely. The main reason I want to do it is because the Norton Antivirus wont do Live Update as a user with little permissions. The only way that it will do it now is if I log in as Administrator, then run LU. I would prefer to do it from my office, because I gots stuff to do. I was thinking about using Remote Assistance, but I am not sure how secure it is. Also, NetMeeting is another idea, but I would like to know if any of you have been able to do this.

Thanks in advance.

p.s. Sorry if this is just rambling and makes no sense. It has been a long, long day.

NuTs62 · 01-30-2003, 07:30 PM

i've never used remote assistance.. but i've used .. that other remote feature.. which i forgot what its called.. but i guess its kind of like PC Anywhere? or radmin .. pretty cool.. can reboot the system, log on, etc.. but while i'm remotely connected, the person at the computer can't be. not sure if remoet assistance is different

seqiro · 01-30-2003, 07:31 PM

I have used Remote Assistance on my parents' computer and it's a wonderful thing.

Basically, they have to send me a request by either Windows Messenger or e-mail. When they do this, they set up a password at the same time which they have to tell me. I can then respond to the request, enter the password, and voila! I'm controlling their machine while they watch. You can hold a conversation at the same time in a chat window as well.

I love it! No more "Ok go to start and click on run. Now type Regedit in the box and press enter. No, R-E-G-E-D-I-T. Ok press Enter. No you must have typed it wrong!" etc.

eSDee · 01-30-2003, 08:38 PM

Thanks fellas for responding. I would like to keep as little user intervention as possible. I usually work late into the evenings, so I can log onto their machines when they are gone, as long as they leave their computers on.

NutS, how does PC Anywhere work? Do I have to install the software on every PC that I want to control? Or do I just install it on the machine that I will be administering from? Are there 2 different apps for the client/server?

Thanks again. Have a good one.

Tommy Boomfiger · 01-30-2003, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by eSDeeLoco
NutS, how does PC Anywhere work? Do I have to install the software on every PC that I want to control? Or do I just install it on the machine that I will be administering from? Are there 2 different apps for the client/server?

for pc anywhere you will have to install at least the client on every computer you want to access and the remote software on the computer you want to use. some liscences allow unlimited installs of the client version and only 1 install of the full version. i know on versions before 10.0 you needed to already be logged in on the computer to access the remote. v10 should allow you to connect without being logged on. i havent used pcA in a while so i dont remember all the details, but its not the easiest thing to do because of the NT login. pcA and NT arent the best combination.

just wondering, can you set up LU to run as administrator?

NuTs62 · 01-30-2003, 11:14 PM

I think the feature I used in WinXP was "remote desktop", which allows me to log-in as if I was at the very computer.

Here is a how-to explanation!

The Remote-Desktop feature doesn't require their permission everytime. So long as you have the login information, or an account on the system. But as I said before, you cannot be simulatenously logged in remotely at the same time a user is logged on. The person physically at the system takes precedence. I forget though, what happens if you move the mouse around and stuff. And to force-quit applications, instead of ctrl+alt+dlt, its located on your start menu, to avoid confusion between your own computer. Here are the how-to instructions .

If everyone is using WinXP already, use that.

eSDee · 01-30-2003, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NuTs62
I think the feature I used in WinXP was "remote desktop", which allows me to log-in as if I was at the very computer.

Here is a how-to explanation! The Remote-Desktop feature doesn't require their permission everytime. So long as you have the login information, or an account on the system. But as I said before, you cannot be simulatenously logged in remotely at the same time a user is logged on. The person physically at the system takes precedence. I forget though, what happens if you move the mouse around and stuff. And to force-quit applications, instead of ctrl+alt+dlt, its located on your start menu, to avoid confusion between your own computer. Here are the how-to instructions .

If everyone is using WinXP already, use that.

Hmmm thanks for the instructions link nutS. Unfortunately the site says WinXP pro, and these computers are running xp home. Not my fault, the powers that be wanted to save money. So now I wonder if there is a way to still run it?

TommyB, thanks for your advice as well. Actually, you can run LU as Administrator while in a user account, but the only way I have figured it out is doing it manually. I don't want to give any of them fools the Admin password though. Is there a way to have LU
always run as Administrator automatically?

Thanks to all so far. I think we're almost there

NuTs62 · 01-31-2003, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by eSDeeLoco

Hmmm thanks for the instructions link nutS. Unfortunately the site says WinXP pro, and these computers are running xp home. Not my fault, the powers that be wanted to save money. So now I wonder if there is a way to still run it?

TommyB, thanks for your advice as well. Actually, you can run LU as Administrator while in a user account, but the only way I have figured it out is doing it manually. I don't want to give any of them fools the Admin password though. Is there a way to have LU
always run as Administrator automatically?

Thanks to all so far. I think we're almost there

Hmmm, I guess that could possibly be a problem eh? hehe.. Cuz all this time, I've been using my WinXP Home computer to logon to my WinXP Pro computer.

Time to upgrade! WinXP Pro only costs, well, for students like me, $25 each

You may want to check out that radmin program. It does take a bit more bandwith, but in a network setting, I don't think its much of an issue. It has less features than the WinXP Remote Desktop, but it still works. It just basically takes continuous screen shots, to give you updates. It still allows you to do remotely administer, like the program name suggests. You can run it as a service and login. I actually used both methods simutaneously, in case one method wasn't working properly, or someone was on the computer. Radmin allows you and the client user to watch the same screen at the same time, and interact. (I had fun scaring my sister.. started moving around the mouse, and playing loud music, and movies in the middle of the night.. from a safety distance of 50 miles

)

Tommy Boomfiger · 01-31-2003, 12:51 AM

if there are command line switches for LU you can schedule it to run whenever the computer is on under the admin account.

Tommy Boomfiger · 01-31-2003, 01:01 AM

got this from symantec.com

Quote:

How to set up a Scheduled Task to run LiveUpdate
The following steps set up a scheduled task to run LiveUpdate. This task can verify that you have sufficient rights to run with an existing account or when running through a firewall or proxy server.

To set up a scheduled task to run LiveUpdate:
1. Open Scheduled Tasks:
On Windows NT 4, double-click My Computer, then double-click Scheduled Tasks.
On Windows 2000/XP, Click Start > Settings > Control Panel > Scheduled Tasks.
2. Double-click "Add Scheduled Task," and click Next on the Scheduled Task Wizard.
3. Click "Browse..." , navigate to and select the Vpdn_lu.exe file, and then click Open.

NOTE: The default location of Vpdn_lu.exe for a NAVCE client ,and server, is:
Client: <drive>:\Program Files\NavNT\vpdn_lu.exe
Server: <drive>:\Program Files\Nav\vpdn_lu.exe

4. Under "Perform this task:", select the appropriate schedule. For example "Daily", and click Next.
5. Select a "Start time:", "Perform this task:" and "Start date:", and then click Next.
6. The current user name appears in the field "Enter the user name:" Enter the password for the user account in the fields provided, and click Next.

NOTE: When running LiveUpdate through a firewall or proxy, change the user to an Administrator account, enter the password in the appropriate fields, and then click Next.

7. Check the option "Open the advanced properties for this task when I click finish", and then click Finish.
8. A new dialog box opens, titled: vpdn_lu. In the RUN field, you see "c:\program files\navnt\vpdn_lu.exe" Add /s outside of the closing quote. This runs LiveUpdate in silent mode. The line now reads:
"c:\program files\navnt\vpdn_lu.exe" /s

9. When you click apply, you are prompted to enter the password again to confirm it.

link

kain9i6 · 01-31-2003, 12:02 PM

I've always been partial to VNC.. that's what I used to control and setup my Counterstrike server that was over 600 miles away.. Quick, easy, and to the point.. and best of all.. from what I remember it's free..

Link

Nija · 01-31-2003, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kain9i6
I've always been partial to VNC.. that's what I used to control and setup my Counterstrike server that was over 600 miles away.. Quick, easy, and to the point.. and best of all.. from what I remember it's free..

Link

I prefer RealVNC especially since it's multi-platform. You need to install the viewer and the server on any computer you want (it's like 10 MBS *gasp*) and then you set up a pw and then connect via their ip addy, put the pw in, and your controlling their desktop.

don't know if it would work in eSdee's case, put it's a great thing for me.

eSDee · 01-31-2003, 06:12 PM

Dudes, you have all given me a crapload of good advice. I am going to try the method that Tommy B linked to, because if it works then I won't even have to mess with it at all. That would be great. However I will still need to remotely administer them eventually, so I will check out the other programs that you guys have mentioned.

Thanks alot for all your input. I salute you all

01-30-2003, 07:22 PM	#1
eSDee Old Skooler Numba 1 Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Diego Posts: 10,063	Remotely Administering Win XP home? Hey all, I have a few users here that are on WinXP Home edition PC's, that I would like to administer remotely. The main reason I want to do it is because the Norton Antivirus wont do Live Update as a user with little permissions. The only way that it will do it now is if I log in as Administrator, then run LU. I would prefer to do it from my office, because I gots stuff to do. I was thinking about using Remote Assistance, but I am not sure how secure it is. Also, NetMeeting is another idea, but I would like to know if any of you have been able to do this. Thanks in advance. p.s. Sorry if this is just rambling and makes no sense. It has been a long, long day. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 days ~ Willie Nelson 3 days I dread to see arrive 3 days I hate to be alive 3 days filled with tears and sorrow yesterday today and tomorrow

01-30-2003, 07:31 PM	#3
seqiro Commander Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western MA Posts: 1,183	I have used Remote Assistance on my parents' computer and it's a wonderful thing. Basically, they have to send me a request by either Windows Messenger or e-mail. When they do this, they set up a password at the same time which they have to tell me. I can then respond to the request, enter the password, and voila! I'm controlling their machine while they watch. You can hold a conversation at the same time in a chat window as well. I love it! No more "Ok go to start and click on run. Now type Regedit in the box and press enter. No, R-E-G-E-D-I-T. Ok press Enter. No you must have typed it wrong!" etc. __________________ Paul Beasi

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01-30-2003, 07:30 PM	#2
NuTs62 Vice Admiral Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4,763	i've never used remote assistance.. but i've used .. that other remote feature.. which i forgot what its called.. but i guess its kind of like PC Anywhere? or radmin .. pretty cool.. can reboot the system, log on, etc.. but while i'm remotely connected, the person at the computer can't be. not sure if remoet assistance is different

01-30-2003, 08:38 PM	#4
eSDee Old Skooler Numba 1 Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Diego Posts: 10,063	Thanks fellas for responding. I would like to keep as little user intervention as possible. I usually work late into the evenings, so I can log onto their machines when they are gone, as long as they leave their computers on. NutS, how does PC Anywhere work? Do I have to install the software on every PC that I want to control? Or do I just install it on the machine that I will be administering from? Are there 2 different apps for the client/server? Thanks again. Have a good one.

01-30-2003, 11:14 PM	#6
NuTs62 Vice Admiral Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4,763	I think the feature I used in WinXP was "remote desktop", which allows me to log-in as if I was at the very computer. Here is a how-to explanation! The Remote-Desktop feature doesn't require their permission everytime. So long as you have the login information, or an account on the system. But as I said before, you cannot be simulatenously logged in remotely at the same time a user is logged on. The person physically at the system takes precedence. I forget though, what happens if you move the mouse around and stuff. And to force-quit applications, instead of ctrl+alt+dlt, its located on your start menu, to avoid confusion between your own computer. Here are the how-to instructions . If everyone is using WinXP already, use that.

01-31-2003, 12:51 AM	#9
Tommy Boomfiger Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Chi town Posts: 2,348	if there are command line switches for LU you can schedule it to run whenever the computer is on under the admin account.

01-31-2003, 12:02 PM	#11
kain9i6 Lieutenant Commander Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Signal Hill, Ca Posts: 859	I've always been partial to VNC.. that's what I used to control and setup my Counterstrike server that was over 600 miles away.. Quick, easy, and to the point.. and best of all.. from what I remember it's free.. Link

01-31-2003, 06:12 PM	#13
eSDee Old Skooler Numba 1 Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Diego Posts: 10,063	Dudes, you have all given me a crapload of good advice. I am going to try the method that Tommy B linked to, because if it works then I won't even have to mess with it at all. That would be great. However I will still need to remotely administer them eventually, so I will check out the other programs that you guys have mentioned. Thanks alot for all your input. I salute you all

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