Getting PCAnywhere to connect and run is killing me

[bob733]

Hi,
I bought Pcanywhere V11.0.1 (for 99 bucks (before I found out I could do the same thing for free with Ultravnc, Tightvnc etc!!)).
I installed it on my main Windows XP Home machine.

Anyway, I am stuck because the big Symantec In The Sky does not know (and probably never has) how to refund for a product that is almost worthless (IMHO since I paid good money for an apparently bad product).

But, I have to try to salvage my money somehow (by using the product), so I am writing for help on this forum. Here is what I have and what I did so far:

I have 2 computers (sitting side by side). Computer 1 is my main system, and computer 2 is networked. Basically the config is:
Dsl going to a dsl modem, which goes to a lynksys router on my main computer 1. Computer 2 is on the network via a eithernet cable going to the linksys router. It can access the internet (through the router) fine.

I bought (aarrrrggghhh) Pcanywhere because I wanted to control computer 2 with Pcanywhere (I know they are next to each other, but it is easier to do a couple of things on computer 2 from computer 1).

I installed Pcanywhere on computer 1. I am using the ports 5631 and 5632. I even was on the phone with linksys techsupport and we assured that ports 5631 and 5632 were set up correctly in the router.

Now I am trying to connect to computer 2. I ran Ipconfig on both computers to get the ip addresss of both computers and the router IP address. I entered all three numbers in the Pcanywhere Host Computer preferences section. I figured it is better to add them all and be save than sorry.

I tried a simple (ha, that is a laugh) Quick Connect and it could not connect (message "Unable to attach to specified device").
I tried it with the Routers ip address, computer 1's ip address and computer 2' ip address. It failed to connect on all 3 trys.

Does anyone have any idea. For example, I had to install Ultrvnc (and Tighvnc) on both computers. Then I would fire up a server version on computer 2 and a viewer server on computer 1 to beable to control computer 2 applications. They both worked great (I was able to run computer 2 applications from computer 1). Do I have to do likewis and install Pcanywhere on both machines?

Anyway, all help would be appreciated.

[Bill in SD, CA]

PCAnyhwere has to be installed on both machines.

Afterwards, the "host" machine has to be "waiting" for a connection.

Icon in taskbar will so indicate on a mouseover with "PCAnywhere waiting."

I've only used the program with dial-up.

Bill

[elroy]

Have you considered a KVM switch? Hook 1 monitor, keyboard and mouse to the switch. Then hook both towers to the switch and with your keyboard you can switch from one tower to the other in 1 second.
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...107-246&depa=0
I've used PC Anywhere for the same thing you are doing and the KVM is 100 times better.

[bob733]

Bill, thanks a lot... that worked... I got to thinking I should be doing something just like Tightvnc and Ultravnc (reciever and server). thanks once again.

Elroy, I actually already have that on my system (kvm switch) but thanks for responding anyway.

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