I have an excellent computer consulting business that, for better or
worse, takes me far and wide geographically.
  I often have to burn up extra time and gas on simple things that I
could actually do remotely.
  So I need a system that will allow me to remotely manage my clients'
PCs, with this important restriction: it can't require any previous
installation of any sort of client software - I need to be able to
"push" it onto their desktops.
  Any suggestions, preferably reasonably priced, are appreciated.

---

Request for Question Clarification by keystroke-ga on 09 Nov 2006 13:49 PST

Hello pcventures,

I have a software in mind that would be perfect but you would have to
install it on the person's machine. I'm not sure what you mean by
"pushing" it onto their desktops.  Could you clarify?

--keystroke-ga

---

Clarification of Question by pcventures-ga on 09 Nov 2006 13:52 PST

Well, Verizon uses a remote support tool that works on people's PCs
that have never had it installed.
  I have no idea what it is called.
  It's pretty important to me that a pre-installation not be
necessary, since some of the people I deal with need a lot of
hand-holding and getting them through installing a remote client can
be rather time-consuming, and of course if their PC is really slow or
wonky, then it might be next to impossible.

Hi pcventures,

The easiest solution is web-based remote access. The remote user does
not need to install software and doesn't need any skill at all for
this to work. A stranger could call you, and you can connect to their
computer in less than 5 minutes.

I recently did this search for myself. I settled on LogMeIn Rescue.

LogMeIn Rescue does exactly what you want. There's a free trial. If
you have a computer consulting business I think you will find the cost
reasonable if you are willing to look for ways to utilize this
powerful tool. The service costs $129.00 per month, or you can make an
annual payment and get 2.79 months free.  I think you could find it to
be very profitable in the dead driving time, and gas, while running
around helping people.

LogMeIn Rescue
https://secure.logmeinrescue.com/ads/081/home.aspx

If you think the cost is prohibitive, consider this: They have the
best customer service I have ever encountered in a business, period.

Here's their white paper about it:
http://corp.logmein.com/pdf/3amPR_LogMeInRescue.pdf

In fairness, here is their strongest competitors:

UltraVNC (FREE)

UltraVNC is a powerfull, easy to use and free software that can
display the screen of another computer (via internet or network) on
your own screen. The program allows you to use your mouse and keyboard
to control the other PC remotely. It means that you can work on a
remote computer, as if you were sitting in front of it, right from
your current location.

http://ultravnc.sourceforge.net/
https://www.copilot.com/
http://www.gotoassist.com/solutions.tmpl?SessionInfo=
http://www.webex.com/

I hope these choices help you select a solution. If I can clarify,
please don't hesitate to ask.


~~Cynthia


Search terms used:
"remote assistance solutions"
"remote support" "no software installation"
"web based" "remote support" 
"web based" remote access

---

Clarification of Answer by cynthia-ga on 09 Nov 2006 16:29 PST

LOL, editing mistake:

I think you could find it to be very profitable saving you lots of
dead driving time, and gas, while running around helping people.

---

Request for Answer Clarification by pcventures-ga on 09 Nov 2006 17:11 PST

Cynthia,

I was actually trying to avoid LogMeIn Rescue, since it's a bit pricey.
Ultra VNC requires too much work on the users' part.

Any other ideas???  Pretty please?  Thanks... :)

---

Clarification of Answer by cynthia-ga on 10 Nov 2006 11:04 PST

Did you look at CoPilot?
https://www.copilot.com/learnmore/
..."Fog Creek CopilotSM is a simple and inexpensive service that
allows friends, relatives, and customers to help each other solve
their computer problems by letting one person temporarily connect to
the computer of the other over the Internet. Fog Creek Copilot is
inexpensive, fast, easy, secure, and works with any firewall or router
without having anything to install or any settings to configure..."

Pricing:
Pay as you go plan, only $0.25 per minute! ($19.95 deposit required.) 
200 minute plan for only $19.95 per month. Each additional minute is $0.20. 
500 minute plan for only $39.95 per month. Each additional minute is $0.16. 
1000 minute plan for only $59.95 per month. Each additional minute is $0.12. 
2000 minute plan for only $99.95 per month. Each additional minute is $0.10. 
5000 minute plan for only $199.95 per month. Each additional minute is $0.04.

---

Clarification of Answer by cynthia-ga on 10 Nov 2006 15:00 PST

pcventures,

Thanks for the kind words, the 5 stars and the tip!  

ALso, please note...

From: richardmtl-ga on 10 Nov 2006 12:26 PST ---has another good
choice that seems to fit your criteria. I checked their web site:

Dameware
http://www.dameware.com/products/dmrc/
..."Developed specifically for 32-bit Windows Operating Systems, the
Mini Remote Control offers quick and easy "on the fly" deployment of
its client agent service to remote machines.* Giving an administrator
the ability to remotely install the client agent service eliminates
the need to physically visit the remote machine to install the
software. This gives administrators the unique ability to remote
control any machine on the LAN or WAN (across town, across the
country, or even around the world) in a matter of seconds..."

Also, please note that in the coming months (Comments & clarifications
are allowed for 12 months) I will add other options as I become aware
of them. Be sure to check back occasionally, the email notifications
are broken so you'll need to visit to check. It would also be great if
you would come back and let us know your experiences and what solution
worked for you.

~~Cynthia

---

Clarification of Answer by cynthia-ga on 10 Nov 2006 15:02 PST

FOrgot the price for Dameware...Price: $89.95 to purchase the software.

nicely done - thanks!

this isn't something that can be pushed out but it is fairly easy to
install.  it is called hamachi(www.hamachi.com) they were recently
purchased by logmein but they had a free version which is still
available.  It's not a remote control application it is a "managed
vpn" that allows you for free to have up to 15 pcs in a virtual lan.
you can have multiple lans or pay for the ability to have additional
computers in the virtual lan. with that installed and assuming the
computers are running windows xp professional you can use the builtin
remote desktop access mechanism.  if you have mixed clients and
assuming you have admin account on the machines you can use your
choice of vnc distribution.  there is a free utility from system
tools(systemtools.com) called system tools remote control
manager(strcm) that will allow you to push out(as well as start and
stop vnc) to other machines as long as you have admin access to the
remote computer.  together, these two tools will provide you secure
access to your clients computers with their firewall in place. my
preferred version of vnc is tightvnc available on sourceforge.com.

the url for hamachi is actually www.hamachi.cc

Dameware is a good choice also:

http://www.dameware.com/products/dmrc/

try bild in

you said: Ultra VNC requires too much work on the users' part.
Any other ideas???  Pretty please?  Thanks... :)

This is untrue.  We use UltraVNC SC (single click) daily.  We have a
link on our website that says "Remote Support."  They click it and
it's an exe that opens and the user does not have to do anything else.
 If we have our UltraVNC viewer (which is a port listener), they open
the app once and we're directly connected.  The app is called UltraVNC
SC (single click):

http://doc.uvnc.com/addons/singleclick.html

[If you don't have a static IP address, you will need to run the setup
application each time your IP changes.  Of course you need to turn on
port forwarding on your router if you're firewalled.]

In my opinion UltraVNC SC is the only way to go.  Of course, you have
to talk your users through clicking on a link on a website.  "Go to
x.com, click on the link that says 'remote support'."
"o.k.  I'm on google.com."
"no, not google.com... go to the top address bar (or click ctrl-o or
ctrl-l) and type in 'x.com' and hit enter."
"o.k.  I'm in my email and I have a new message opened and have typed in x.com."

Yeah.... you'd be surprised.

Hi cynthia!

I just noticed that you agreed also with my comment, thanks for
pointing the questioner to it!

Just to expand a bit on my original comment, I used an earlier version
of dameware when I did tech support 2 years ago. Worked preety nicely,
and I heard from someone that it's even better now.

good luck, pcventures-ga! let us know your final choice!

1.You can install Symantec PC Anywhere software, the version which
available is 10.This would work for any network connectivity or same
networkconnectivity.

2.If its same network connectivity, you can use Windows NetMeeting
which is inbuilt in your Operating system.Path would be start
button/programs/accessories/netmeeting and shortcut would be start
button/run/then type " conf "

For the above two remote connections,internet connection is compulsory

<quote>
it can't require any previous installation of any sort of client
software - I need to be able to "push" it onto their desktops."
</quote>

In generic words, "push" is impossible, and many authors sugested you
a way when client "pulls" a software for instance from your web-site.

Although cell-phone providers may push smth: Push Access Protocol,
Push Proxy Gateway,...

You need on at least TCP/IP on a client PC, and may be smbd developed
similar to PAP (WAP phones) on top of TCP.

No problems with UNIX/Linux.

Download via web-access is the easiest way (currently).

Funtick,

"Push" is a term I am familiar with. I used to be a "Live Guide"
wherein I would open a chat window to serve customers. There was a
Pus" button wherein I could find a source in one pane of the screen
and I could Push it to the users desktop. There was confirmation they
were viewing the URL I had pushed. In remote assisdtance, LogMeIn
Rescue (and similar programs) have the same feature. You can "Push" an
application onto someones computer and force installation with no
intervention from the remote user.

Here's a snippit from a page that uses the term:

Push Installer allows administrators to push new installations and
upgrades of Timbuktu out to client machines on the network.
http://www.netopia.com/software/products/tb2/enterprise/

In any event, pcventures used the term, and I understood it as he
meant it. He didn'y want users to have to download anything or take
any action at all, hence the use of the term Push. You Push a
download, from a remote location, onto someones computer. It happens
in remote support every day.