I have a newer desktop running Win 7. I have an older one with XP. I have my pro tools music software running on the XP machine and would like to leave it there with no internet connection and stripped of excessive software.
I can create a network and someone suggested remote desktop so I can bring my XP machine up from the Win & one and run my music software.
I looked on Wikki and they list a crapload
What remote software r u useing? Which do you like, not like?
From windows to windows I find that the included remote desktop software works very well. I use it to connect from one windows 7 box to windows xp boxes all the time for work.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/mobility/getstarted/remoteintro.mspx
logmein.com has a pretty nifty free option that I am quite happy with.
For actual remote support I use the GoToAssist package from our friends at Citrix/Gotomypc. More firepower than most people are looking for but I probably do 20-30 hours of on the clock remote support a month so the $79/month charge is more than worth it. It is also childs play to set up for unskilled users. My favorite part is something called unattended support. If I am out at a business we can set it up in 3-5 min per machine and from there on out we can remotely access any given machine in about 30 seconds with a few mouse clicks.
Since this is seeking opinions, it’s better suited to IMHO than GQ.
Colibri
General Questions Moderator
The free version of LogMeIn does everything I want for connecting to client’s computers (for bookkeeping tasks) and for running a headless server.
Logmein or Remote Desktop would both do the job for you.
I use Logmein, but if I read your request correctly I don’t think that it’s what you’re after - you would need your XP box to have internet connectivity for it to work.
You want to be physically present, sitting at your Windows 7 box, and be able to use the XP box remotely?
What flavour of XP are you running? If you are running XP Pro, then your best best is just to use the inbuilt RDP server, and run the Remote Desktop client on your Windows 7 box. Easy peasy.
If you are using XP Home Edition, then unfortunately the Remote Desktop server does not come with that. UltraVNC is what you’re after.
I appreciate the input.
Let me try to clarify. I’m trying to avoid hooking up another keyboard monitir and mouse to the XP machine,
The two machines will be close and networked, but rather than just access the information on the XP machine I want to bring up it’s desktop and operate the music software from the win7 machine I want to save space and centralize my work area.
I hope that clears things up.
The other option is I have a switch for keyboard , mouse, and monitor. Add a lot of cables though.
Timbuktu Pro
Apple Remote Access (VNC-compatible)
JollyFastVNC &
Chicken of the VNC (many VNC clients, all platforms)
Mac Helpmate (there’s a Windows version too)
Mikogo
TeamViewer
Yugma
MS Remote Desktop Connection (creates a separate login session)
X11 ssh
As you can see, I do a lot of this! 
I pretty much have to use whatever my clients are willing to install and each one picks something new & different dammit. I like Timbuktu and ARA the best, but TeamViewer is quite nice
The microsoft remote desktop software that is already installed on your computers will do what you want. I have an XP machine in my home office that has no mouse or keyboard or monitor. I can bring up a desktop for the XP machine on my windows 7 machine. There is nothing extra to install the program is included with windows.
The issue with Remote Desktop is that it doesn’t put you on the “console,” so in effect it’s not technically like you’re sitting at the monitor with a keyboard and mouse. If it’s a PC you want to connect to on your local network and it does not have internet access, I would suggest VNC. I think they discontinued support of the free version on Windows 7, but it is open source so there are other flavors out there that do support it (TightVNC, etc).
For supporting family members on the internet, you can’t beat TeamViewer. I love this software. It does require an internet connection, however.
So, my recommendations are a flavor of VNC and\or Teamviewer.
Another vote for VNC. I found Remote Desktop not to work as well for your purpose.
The most feature rich is UltraVNC, but its interface is a bit kludgy. Still, it will install the special video driver automatically during setup, which will keep the server from using up too many resources on an older computer.
TightVNC is good, too, but you have to install the video driver manually. Plus you miss out on File Transfers and other goodies. And UltraVNC is compatible with TightVNC, anyway.
The only thing I really don’t like about UltraVNC are the icons. I actually used a resource editor to change them.
PC Anywhere is the original remote desktop and still the best.
I bought my first version 12 years ago for Win 98. I’ve upgraded several times. My recent copy was bought in 2007.