Setup Remote Access to Home Network with XP Home SP2

[Hootenanny]

I have a simple wireless network set-up at home. I have a PC connected to a printer and various other peripherals and a laptop. Both machines are connected wireless to a router which in turn is connected to the Internet. Both systems are running Win XP Home SP2. I want to be able to access user accounts on both machines via the network, i.e. work on one computer while sitting at the other. I have looked into remote desktop, but have discovered that it is only available when one machine has XP Prof. I was wandering if anyone knew of anyways of remote desk topping without have a copy of XP Prof. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[robphy]

Try one of the flavors of VNC http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VNC
(RealVNC, UltravNC, TightVNC).

You can even run VNC from your Palm device.
http://www.btinternet.com/%7Eharakan/PalmVNC/colour_full.gif

 

[Hootenanny]

Looks good rob, thanks a lot. Is there a flavour you would recommend? I'm not exactly a network guru and security is paramount for me.

 

[robphy]

I use http://www.ultravnc.com/ because of the "mirror" video driver. Other flavors may have this as well.

http://www.realvnc.com/ might be the best for commercial strength.

Each has additional security features that could be installed. I just use an ssh tunnel.

 

[Hootenanny]

Thanks again. I'll give it a bash when I get back off my hols

 

[russ_watters]

I use realvnc, but it it is probably a little to slow to be a viable remote desktop. It works ok for some tasks, though.