Controlling one PC from another

Royal Fleet · 30 Sep 2008 at 10:57

I am sure this is pretty basic stuff, but it is not something I have ever done.

Situation is this.

My Sister in law is setting up as a photographer. Her and her boyfriend have a PC each, neither of which is particularly powerful, but will just about run Photoshop and allow her to manipulate an image. They only have room for one monitor etc, so they have a spare box sitting around.

I suggested that for her batch tasks (converting RAW to JPEG, resizing etc) she use the spare box.

So what is the best solution to do this?

The boxes will be physically next to each other, connected to a router.
She will want to be able to start processes and programs on the 'slave' from the 'master'

I know that this will probably involve some sort of VNC program, but having never done this some sort of guidance would be appreciated. Both are running XP

Admiral Huddy · 30 Sep 2008 at 10:59

I use Windows Remote Assistant or LogMein. Both do the job and are simple to use.

I've never got on with TightVNC.. I've just always seem to have problems with it. Must be me.

dazz25 · 30 Sep 2008 at 11:18

Remote desktop will work fine if there on the same network (plugged into same router).

bledd · 30 Sep 2008 at 11:20

remote desktop or tightvnc

if she's serious about setting up a business, why not buy a £300-500 pc for the job instead of faffing with two?

siclilmonkey · 30 Sep 2008 at 11:37

A KVM maybe another way??

im using a 4 port one here in work tis fab

Royal Fleet · 30 Sep 2008 at 12:23

bledd. said:
remote desktop or tightvnc

if she's serious about setting up a business, why not buy a £300-500 pc for the job instead of faffing with two?

Because being a photographers lenses etc come first. She has just spent £2k on them! PC's will come later!

Follow up question, with remote desktop, I presume you don't need to accept the incoming connection, because there will nothing connected to the slave other than ethernet and power cable.

Royal Fleet · 30 Sep 2008 at 12:25

Also is Remote Desktop XP Pro only as these are running home?

bledd · 30 Sep 2008 at 12:34

it is pro only.

as said above though.. a KVM switch might be best here, you connect 1xmouse, 1xkeyboard, 1xmonitor to 2+ machines

they're cheap too

Royal Fleet · 30 Sep 2008 at 12:51

Thanks for all the answers. I have had a quick look at TightVNC and I think that could do the trick.

dazz25 · 30 Sep 2008 at 15:51

You can download remote desktop for XP home from Microsoft.

bledd · 30 Sep 2008 at 16:06

that's just the viewer, and not remote desktop

BigBoy · 30 Sep 2008 at 20:58

A KVM would still be the best option as Most remote connection programs tend to be a little sluggish on screen update.