Discussion on:

Take control of any Windows PC on the Internet with CrossLoop

Have you tried CrossLoop? What do think about it? Did it work for you as well as it worked for me? Do you have a better suggestion?

Mark - this is a very exciting review for a small team! A BIG thanks from a small team.
I have subscribed to this thread for any questions etc that your readers might have.
I am also happy to address them via email at mrinald [at] crossloop.com

there is another that does the same thing and is free. the service is called logmein. i use the service and enjoy its web interface where ever i go. not i think it used a 256 bit encryption through the browser

been using logmein for over a year, it does fine for my purposes..

I use and like LogMeIn as well. I have the free version. I also subscribe to Webex because of the file transfer portion of it, but rarely use Webex. LogMeIn is much quicker than Webex in screen painting, but I do get disconnected with LogMeIn at times for some unknown reason. I will be anxious tso try this solution out as well.

I also use logmein to support my clients but it is not as easy for the technically challenged to implement. While it is a very easy install some of us have customers that are not capable of even the simplest installs or typically they don't know how to use Internet explorer or their computer because they have been using AOL forever. I found a similar service called TeamViewer which is also a one click remote control program very easy for the novice end user but they want $$$ to use it. They do give you 30 minutes of free use/day. I use that to gain control and then install Logmein. I am looking forward to replacing that solution with this new program.

I also use teamviewer! It doesn?t have the 30 minutes restriction per session anymore. Instead you can use it 25 hours a month absolutely free with all its features like file transfer, chat, change direction of view...

Great solution!

Logmein is not free.

Found crossloop easy to connect for sure but the experience of viewing the remote desktop and its response is a bit slow. otherwise, great tool.

Unless somthig was intercepting and relaying - somthing that was heavy on load perhaps?

Hmmmm...

is it secure? it won't open door for unwanted attacks?

...it can be slow when a p2p connection fails to be established. Then as a back up we relay it through our servers.
This is rare and are always working on reducing these rare instances since it makes increases our costs
Please try again and let me know how it goes.
Thanks

I also use Logmein, however, the file tx functionality is removed after a while.
Think it was after a month or so.
Still have the remote ctrl, but that's it...

We use Logmein free to support a number of remote sites and simply transfer files to/from an FTP site to get around the limitation.

And a few of my more knowledgeable clients have installed it to talk to me that way as well. And I don't mind staying out of the traffic either

I like the tool, it makes connecting very easy, I simply stay on the phone till it connects and then go and fix the problem. Very easy to use and install.

I'm sure if my dad could figure out this forum, he'd thank you too...., now he doesn't have to try to figure out what I'm talking about over the phone.

Thanks for a simple program that does exactly what is says it does.

Logmein is great but it is NOT free - at least for us civilians out here! It is free for 14 days but after that you have to spend $139 mo to keep in going. Perhaps you can enlighten us as to which one is free? Thanks!

depends how honest u r

Looks & sounds great but the major problem I see is when it says "Both host and client click the connect buttons"... Most of the remote connections I make are to boxes where there is no one. For instance if I want to connect to my home computer, there is no one to click "connect". Will it work box to box without a person at the other end?
Jim

According to the article, the code is generated by the host, therefore someone has to be at the host.

.....for remote access but for on-demand very easy to use tool for two people to use.
It will not work if there is no one at the other end to click on 'connect'

I just found this other thread on CrossLoop and though I haven't tried it yet (I will this evening though) For unattended remote access I think TightVNC RealVNC and VNC are good. I think if it does what it's meant for it is perfect. For a simple "lets just get connected so I can help you" it's bound to be a popular tool. Especially because there are people out there who have no idea how to use a computer and the simpler the process or remote connection is for them the better. EXAMPLE:(I sent a direct download link to tightvnc in an email to my father-in-law and since he has never used a computer he wasn't sure how to check his email, much less click the link and click save. So you can imagine the tightvnc setup we attempted. I have high hopes for this program!)

Have used it a few times now, GREAT little gadget. Just what I need to support a large family and many friends.
Jack247, would it work (sloooow, I know) with one side on dial-up as well?
TIA for enlightenment.

There is another VNC configured viewer that I have been using...by the folks on the UltraVNC project. You can setup your own VNC repeater and provide remote support acrossed firewalls, etc.

It has a mechanism to pre-package the viewer as an executable. The user just downloads it from your site, fires it up, you fire up your end...voila.

All open source and free. Works great!

Look it up at www.uvnc.com

Have you seen what a user has to go through?
http://www.uvnc.com/install/configuration.html
And before that:
Select if UltraVNC server should be registered as a system service.
Select if UltraVNC service should be started or restarted.
Select if MSLogon II should be configured.
Select if UltraVNC Admin Properties should be configured.
Select if old UltraVNC registry entries should be removed.
Select if additional desktop icons should be created for UltraVNC server, viewer and repeater.
Select if files with extension .vnc should be associated with UltraVNC viewer.
Specify location of ACL file.

I'm completely lost by then!
Cas

I had everything including the internet "repeater" server, testing, creating the "host" package, online within a couple of hours.

I know that the documentation with open source stuff is often lacking, but I did not find this to be too bad.

As far as the user, they just download and run a pre-packaged exe file that I create using the unvnc stuff. I run the software viewer with a saved configuration. I set an id number, giving that to the host user at time of connect -voila.

For the most part, I stuck to the instructions and tried not to over tech it I guess. It works well but, your right, if the malware is rampant it will interfere with all internet traffic at the host.

Quote
I had everything including the internet "repeater" server, testing, creating the "host" package, online within a couple of hours.
UnQuote
I worked with CrossLoop within a couple of minutes..
Cas

If you only need to do occasional support quickly, use something else. What PCHelpware does is to create the repeater facility that the CrossLoop servers provide for their application.

It appears that the CrossLoop application provides the client and server functionality while they host the repeater functionality. Therefore, all connections are dependent upon their hosted service.

It is probably not worth it to the casual user to assume the expense of the hardware and bandwidth to run their own repeater, but it could potentially be feasible if you are in the remote support business, as Logmein charges $99 per month per technician to provide substantially the same functionality.

Cheers!

dm

My company uses this program as well.

I used this on 2 desktop pc's and one laptop. It connected and did what it said it would do with no problem on 2 of the machines. But the 3rd one was so infected with malware, spyware, and viruses that I just couldn't stay connected long enough to do anything with it. Besides it was too slow running any programs so It would be easier to just reinstall the whole OS. But the program is very good. I give it a 9.1 One of my friends whom I tried this program with was also impressed and wanted to know where I found this program. So maybe he'll drop by here sometime. Good job.

Really glad that you had the experience almost all our users, now in over 120 countries, are reporting.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions/ feedback or suggestions - mrinald [at] crossloop.com
We love to listen and learn.

Apparantly all these PC's run under admin-accounts! Not too safe ;-(
Because I find that if I connect to a PC running under a limlited user, I get about 10 Error messages while connecting. You never mentioned that.
Clicking the messages away does the trick, although the connection tends to break off with some started programs.
Cas

.....going to fix the computers I think it would be best to be under an admin account. That way you have full access to the system otherwise you will be stuck in limited users account not being able to do what you need to the system to get it working properly. IMHO

...helping people out with their using-the-computer, e.g. email, document sorting, filing, retreiving, then you HAVE to be logged in as that user.
Any 'serious' work on a system, as you say 'not working properly' .... I have my doubts there.
I helped someone installing Google Earth: had to re-establish the crossloop connection about 5 times!

...you mean by "HAVE to be logged in as that user" but if you mean, take control of their computer, Yes - you are correct. We enable people to drive someone else's computer from a distance.
I am not sure why CrossLoop connection dropped 5 times while installing GEarth but we would love to know more and learn - would you be willing to work with our tech support? This is not normal now with users in over a 120 countries in 4 months but we pride ourselves in listening and learning.
You can reach me at mrinald [at] crossloop.com

Jack,
I'm frequently called to help a user do something (like find a file). Our computers are part of a domain, and none of us have admin rights to our own machines. Now, I hot-foot it to the user's PC (assuming same city!), they log in as themselves, and I take over the keyboard. Would love to do this from my office with CrossLoop. Two questions: 1) Can I install CrossLoop on my own PC if I don't have Admin rights? 2) Can I install CrossLoop (or talk the user through the install) remotely if the remote PC/user does not have Admin rights? 3) Once CrossLoop is installed on both PCs, and the remote user is logged in as "herself" (so you can access the files that need to be used), can I "take over" the remote PC? 4) I said "Two questions" -- why can't I count?

Bob Schor

On the download page there is another discussion about "unlimited charging" by Crossloop. As "Jack247" is part of this current thread, "Jack" please enlighten us?
My point is that if the free version is always free then take the/any offending sentences re "charges" out of the EULA.
This product certainly seems to have potential but I for one will not be using it when it retains the capability to "charge" for "free" software. You cannot include something in your armoury if you don't know how much the bullets are.

Has the eula changed since that posting?

Also, "Jack", the eula does contain the name
"Ty Coon, President of Vice" dated 1 April 1989. Is that for real?

Lets see the response from Jack247....
So it looks not to be as 'free as it seems'.

http://crossloop.com/termsofservice.html is the latest and valid one. Notice the date and version of it.

You have a valid concern and here is what happened:

When we launched the company and the product, some users brought the above, like you, to our notice. This is about a couple of months ago. We immediately changed it on our site and the exe.
The exe. that TR pulled was from Download.com , which had an older version when we created the account there just after launch (Nov 1, 2006) and hence our older EULA

We updated the .exe on Download.com recently and it seems that is now reflected here on TR by the larger size of the software.
You may have also noticed that the size of the software is larger now.
We have a smaller version - about 1.2MB for all Windows later than Win98. The larger one includes code for Win98.

As I previously said, the product as is, will ALWAYS be free. We will have a Pro version out soon.

I am assuming you saw the EULA when you downloaded the software from here. If elsewhere, please do let me know so that we can update it to the new one.

My apologies for the confusion.

If you look at the preceding text, you'll see that the "Ty Coon" part is an example from the GNU Public License. (The entire GPL is appendix A.) Crossloop is required to include the license, since they bundle TightVNC.

Perhaps they could change their format slightly, to make it obvious that everything from "Appexdix A" to the end is the text of the GPL.

..and thanks for addressing "Ty Coon".
I had missed that.
Will pass your feedback on "BeagleBoy"
Have a good weekend everyone!

Two tries, two minutes each and only the first inch of the top was loaded. Client was a Core Duo on DSL in South FL, host was a Pentium 4 on Verizon fiber on Long Island. Sessions were attempted at 2am ET.

By contrast, LogMeIn connected just fine in under 60 seconds.

.... if our tech support can work with you and look into your environment and session. This is not normal but we want to be close to our users , listen and continuously improve.

You can email me at mrinald [at] crossloop.com
I apologize for any inconvenience.

My parents live 200 miles away and are total newbies as far as pc's go... didn't stop them buying an intergrated lcd tv/pc though!!! Now when pop ups appear they don't panic anymore because I can connect via CrossLoop and sort any updates or problems out. Working in conjunction with them on skype talk i can not only sort the problems out but describe what i am doing so they pick things up as we go along... brilliant bit of software.

....when we hear that we are empowering ANYONE and not just those who live and breath technology like all of us here!
Thanks for this feedback Heath!

Just tested on 2 PC's on my network for a few minutes. Seems pretty slick. I particularly like the simplicity.

Some observations/questions:

1) I couldn't get out of full screen mode. The dialog says to hit CTRL+ESC ESC but that doesn't seem to work.

2) It would be nice if the Name field remembered custom names instead of defaulting to "[Profile Name] on [Computer Name]"

3) Is there a way to change settings? Like with TightVNC to operate at lower resolution/bandwidth, etc..

4) What exactly will the Pro edition offer over the freebie?

Thanks! Nice work.

Hello Paul,

CrossLoop uses TightVNC as a plug-in. The reminder from TightVNC when switching to full-screen mode is:

====
To exit from full-screen mode, use Ctrl-Esc Esc and then right-click on the vncviewer taskbar icon to see the menu.
====

This is correct, except that the taskbar item will be labeled "CrossLoop", not "vncviewer".

In full-screen mode you only see the taskbar of the host machine. Ctrl-Esc, followed by ESC will reenable the taskbar of the viewer machine. When you then right-click the CrossLoop viewer item, you get the VNCviewer context menu. In there, click "Full screen" to remove the check mark next to it. That reduces the viewer back to a window, so you can access other applications.

On your other questions, I think your suggestion about remembering customized viewer names is a GREAT idea and will make sure it gets into our next version.

I believe there currently is no way to permanently change the connection options (force 8-bit colours, etc).

If you want to find out what's coming out in latest versions, I recommend subscribing to our blog

Thanks for the info, Joe. I think I dismissed the "Get out of Full Screen mode" dialog too quickly. I'll give it a try now.

I'll also subscribe to that blog as I've got more questions/suggestions.

Thanks again!

First - thanks for your good words after testing CrossLoop. Most of our users have a similar experience - we have now already served more than 1,000,000 minutes of screen sharing!

Joe seems to be faster than me and has answered all your technical questions.

CrossLoop Pro enables one to brand their service - tech support, consulting, training, professional services like accountants, QuickBooks trainers etc - and get some special administrative access.
If you are interested, please email me at mrinald [at] crossloop.com

hi ppl..i tried using crossloop...but it was takin lot of time for setting up the connectivity... even after half an hour..it still said..connectin.... so disconnected the connec..

i got a b'band connec at home...256kbps..guess tat shld do to use crossloop

hw much time does it generally take???
has anyone tried???????

....unattended remote access Rohit. Am I correct?
You need to use a shared Access Codes on both PCs and then hit 'connect' within 2 minutes. It times out in 2 minutes.

Email me at mrinald [at] crossloop.com if you need help

Thanks