# Remote control with different Windows versions. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 31, 2020, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-control-with-different-windows-versions/850739 "2020-03-31T13:53:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2020, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-control-with-different-windows-versions/850739/1 "2020-03-31T13:53:27Z")
What is a remote control program that can use different Windows versions? We have several Win XP laptops that we would like to remotely use to control Windows 7 desktops. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2020, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-control-with-different-windows-versions/850739/2 "2020-03-31T14:45:55Z")
Like a [VNC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_Network_Computing) program? There are several. There’s no fundamental reason this shouldn’t be possible, subject to compatibility with your OS and hardware. But I will note XP has not been supported in years and even Win 7 is on its last support legs. You’re leaving yourself open to some major security holes just connecting those machines to the internet. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2020, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-control-with-different-windows-versions/850739/3 "2020-03-31T14:52:37Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Like a [VNC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_Network_Computing) program? There are several. There’s no fundamental reason this shouldn’t be possible, subject to compatibility with your OS and hardware. > > But I will note XP has not been supported in years and even Win 7 is on its last support legs. You’re leaving yourself open to some major security holes just connecting those machines to the internet. What **Great Antitbob** said. VNC is free but connecting WinXP machines to the internet is not a Good Thing. If you absolutely have to do this, make sure that the host computers are set to not go to sleep. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2020, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/remote-control-with-different-windows-versions/850739/4 "2020-03-31T15:23:16Z")
Here’s what you _could_ do: install a virtual-machine application on your Windows 7 box (I’m a Parallels person but I guess VMWare is more popular on native Windows environments) and install XP there; then run an XP-compatible remote control package in the VM and on the XP laptops. The last remote control utility that was really good about maintaining backwards compatibility was Timbuktu Pro. Unfortunately it’s extinct (although you could buy it on eBay) and I don’t think their last Windows version was compatible with Windows 7. But I use it in a mixed environment to connect to Windows 95 (!) and Macintosh System 6 (!) boxes. It’s a shame that most remote-control software such as TeamViewer doesn’t make provisions for connecting to its own older versions.