# Help setting up VNC

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-setting-up-vnc/569335>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 28, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-setting-up-vnc/569335 "2011-01-28T21:34:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-setting-up-vnc/569335/1 "2011-01-28T21:34:00Z")

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I am trying to set up a VNC server on my computer. I have tried with RealVNC and TightVNC and had the same problem with both. I cannot make the server to start listening for connections.

My computer runs Windows 7 x64

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**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2011, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-setting-up-vnc/569335/2 "2011-01-28T23:31:13Z")

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Which version of TightVNC did you try? Windows 7 requires 2.0+.

If that’s right, it’s possible the problem is with your firewall. It needs to be set to allow VNC connections through. It should have automatically happened if all you are using is the built-in Windows Firewall, or you’d have gotten a prompt telling you to fix it. If you are using anything else, or are trying to go across the Internet, it may be more complicated.

For Internet use, you will have to use port forwarding on your router’s firewall. For other firewall programs, I can only refer you to their documentation.

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**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2011, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-setting-up-vnc/569335/3 "2011-01-28T23:50:37Z")

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I just downloaded UltraVNC and it works. The ports were forwarded correctly and the firewall allowed access. The problem was with the specific applications, for some reason they wouldn’t get into listen mode.