How to use TightVNC for remote computer access for my Dad

Hi, hope someone can advise? My Dad is terrible with computers, and trying to talk him through logging into skype just about drove me mad.

I would like to setup a TightVNC connection so I can access his PC remotely and help him get things sorted. I have tested this at home and I can access another laptop, but I am using my home network and the IP address of the laptop to connect.

Presumably if I try and connect to my Dad's PC I will need his IP address, but will that just be his normal PC IP address, or his Router IP address, or does something else need configured?

I don't want to attempt this and have it fail as my Dad is likely to unplug his PC for ever!

We are both on Windows 10.

Thanks in anticipation,

David

Hi have you looked into team viewer might be easier. I have not used it in years but when I did it work good. some reading on it here. TeamViewer: The Remote Desktop Software

In most cases, you are going to need to set up a DDNS server on his router, because, more than likely, his internet connection is set up with DNS from his ISP and, therefor, his internet IP address can change. Then you will need to setup up port forwarding on his router to forward the TightVNC traffic to the TightVNC server on his computer.

This is the DDNS page of my router setup:


A second option is to set up a VPN, if his router supports a VPN server. Then you VPN into his router, and then use either TightVNC or just standard Windows 10 Remote Desktop (if his computer has Windows 10 Pro). Here is the VPN setup page of my router:

NavyLCDR said:

In most cases, you are going to need to set up a DDNS server on his router, because, more than likely, his internet connection is set up with DNS from his ISP and, therefor, his internet IP address can change. Then you will need to setup up port forwarding on his router to forward the TightVNC traffic to the TightVNC server on his computer.

This is the DDNS page of my router setup:


A second option is to set up a VPN, if his router supports a VPN server. Then you VPN into his router, and then use either TightVNC or just standard Windows 10 Remote Desktop (if his computer has Windows 10 Pro). Here is the VPN setup page of my router:

Thanks NavyLCDR. I understand that, but there is no way I can access my Dad's router and set this up. Suspect he doesn't have the password to access it anyway. I think TeamViewer is the solution I need, but thanks for your help.

RickC said:

I've been using TeamViewer since version 4 and IMO it's by far the best solution for use with aging parents. (I use AutoHotkey as well and wrote a 4-line script to automate connection to my Dad's PC without any of the usual typing of partner ID or password at my end. Let me know if this would be of any use to you.)

Hope this helps...

can you share your script please.

Hi folks

forget Teamviewer -- they are getting far too rapacious these days even for private domestic consumers --"Corporate Greed" rearing its ugly head again.

While not the best protocol your best bet in this situation is to simply use RDP.

On the remote computer you need to ensure that remote access is enabled. That can be done in the old control panel or system settings.

As for the IP address -- that will be the IP address of his router that appears to the outside internet. I'll assume that both are using IPV4 (that's where IP addresses are of the form xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx). If it's IPV6 also do-able but a whole other ball game.

Stuff here should get you started.

How to use Remote Desktop app to connect to a PC on Windows 10 | Windows Central

Cheers
jimbo

lqlaow said:

can you share your script please.

Sure... at its simplest it's just:

Code:

TVPASS := "<password_you_set>"
TVID := "<partner_ID>"
Run, "C:\Program Files (x86)\TeamViewer\TeamViewer.exe" -i %TVID% --Password %TVPASS%
Return

I've expanded it to include comments:

Code:

; Can TeamViewer be used within a local network (LAN) only?
; Are there parameters to start TeamViewer?
; Note: If connecting over the internet, use the device-specific ID generated by TeamViewer
; If connecting within a LAN you can use the computername OR the IP address to cut out the third-party handshaking

; Example... (note: this is a dummy password for demo purposes - just substitute the password you set)
TVPASS := "12ConnectMe34"

; Example... connect to device in same home network
;TVID := "LOUNGE-PC" ; Connect using computername
;TVID := "192.168.1.100" ; Connect using IP address

; Connect to Dad's PC over internet (note: this is a dummy ID for demo purposes)
TVID := "644051928"

; Example - Connect into remote VIEWING session:
Run, "C:\Program Files (x86)\TeamViewer\TeamViewer.exe" -i %TVID% --Password %TVPASS%

; Example - connect into remote FILE TRANSFER session:
; Run, "C:\Program Files (x86)\TeamViewer\TeamViewer.exe" -i %TVID% --Password %TVPASS% -m fileTransfer

Return

If my Dad was the only one I used TeamViewer with then I could have reduced the code still further to just 1-line:

Code:

Run, "C:\Program Files (x86)\TeamViewer\TeamViewer.exe" -i "644051928" --Password "12ConnectMe34"

However, I also use TeamViewer with other members of my family so I'm using variables to set up a rudimentary GUI to use a dropdown list of family members and option button for whether to append the 'file transfer' request. For example:

Code:

Gui, Add, Radio, x12 y10 w120 h20, File Transfer mode
Gui, Add, DropDownList, x12 y40 w120 h20 vWho, Brother|Dad||Sister 
Gui, Add, Button, x170 y20 w100 h30, Connect
Gui, Show, w300 h75, My TeamViewer Connect

... in order to show:



However, I've only just started on coding a GUI... since this thread made me think a bit more about how I used TeamViewer.

Hope this helps...

the dropdown menu is very nice